Internazionale vs Barcelona 11/12/19

11 December 2019

Internazionale and Barcelona come face-to-face at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the final match of the UEFA Champions League (CL) Group F.

After a shock 1-1 home draw with Slavia Praha in their CL curtain-raiser, the hosts have won two of their subsequent four group matches losing the remaining two. Interestingly, three of those results (win/loss) have seen the winners on the day score two or more goals and concede at least one. A victory here would propel the Nerazzurri to the knockout stage, as they sit second in the section, level on points with Borussia Dortmund and four adrift of toppers Barcelona. However, the Serie A heavyweights face an uphill task here, given that they’ve pulled off just one triumph in their last 11 clashes against the Spanish rivals (W1, D4, L6). The one consolation for Antonio Conte is that his players have won six of ten competitive home games this term, losing only once in the remaining four (W6, D3, L1).

As for the visitors, they’ve already sealed a place in the knockout stage, having won three of five Group F fixtures (W3, D2). While all three of Barca’s CL wins this season saw them concede precisely one goal and score two or more, both of their draws have come via the same 0-0 scoreline. Unbeaten in the group stage in the last two CL campaigns, the Catalans can stretch that record here if they manage to defy an indifferent away record against the Italian opponents (W6, D11, L7). Ernesto Valverde’s men have been impressive on the road recently, picking up six wins in their last seven competitive away games, with a 3-1 La Liga loss to Levante being the only exception. While five of their triumphs in that period saw Barcelona score at least two goals, four have been accompanied by a clean sheet.