The Daily Star Ireland
Bayer Leverkusen had an outstanding season last year, securing both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. However, their dream run came to an end in the Europa League final, where they were defeated 0-3 by Atalanta Bergamo, with Lookman scoring a hat-trick.
This season, Leverkusen has started strong in European competition, achieving an impressive 5-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg. This win helped them bounce back from a tough 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield and a surprising 1-1 draw against Stade Brestois in Brittany. They have also recorded wins against AC Milan (1-0) and Feyenoord (4-0), putting them in a favorable position within their group.
In domestic play, Leverkusen has been in solid form, with only one loss in their last eleven Bundesliga matches. They will look to continue their strong run with upcoming games against Union Berlin and St. Pauli, aiming to remain in the top 4 of the league.
Inter Milan, while not always the center of attention, is a serious contender for the title. Currently sitting in second place, just behind Liverpool, their strong position reflects their ability. Inter began their Champions League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, followed by four consecutive wins, including victories over Red Star Belgrade (4-0), Young Boys (1-0), Arsenal (1-0), and Leipzig (1-0).
One notable achievement is that Inter is the only team in the competition that has yet to concede a goal. Since their 1-2 loss in the Milan derby on September 22, they have remained unbeaten across all competitions. They aim to extend this streak with upcoming fixtures against Fiorentina and Parma.
Leverkusen will be without several important players for this match, including Amine Adli, who has been sidelined since an injury against Brest, and Martin Terrier, along with defenders Belocian and Mukiele. The availability of Nigerian striker Boniface and key player Hofmann is uncertain. However, they will have Florian Wirtz, who has scored 5 goals in the Champions League this season, and promising talent Nathan Tella. Benjamin Pavard, who was injured in the match against Leipzig, is also expected to miss out.
Inter Milan will be without defenders Acerbi and Frattesi, who are both injured. Marcus Thuram, with 9 goals and 3 assists in the league, is expected to start, but Lautaro Martinez has been struggling this season after a standout year and an impressive Copa America.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen has consistently found the back of the net in their last 17 home league matches, and with Inter’s away games rarely ending in a scoreless draw, it is expected that both teams will score in this match. The prediction is a 2-1 victory for Inter Milan.
