Internazionale vs Bayer Leverkusen 11/08/20

11 August 2020

Internazionale and Bayer Leverkusen go head-to-head at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in the Europa League quarter-final decider.

The ‘Nerazzurri’ made it two 2-0 triumphs in three Europa League knockout stage rounds with a comfortable victory over Getafe in the revamped round of 16. In fact, four of Inter’s five European wins this season, Champions League included, have yielded a full-time margin of precisely two goals. Yet, three of their four Europa League knockout-stage eliminations have come to Bundesliga opponents, with the Serie A giants picking up only one win in their last nine trips to Germany (D3, L5). By extension, the Italians lament an utterly disappointing record versus German rivals (W4, D4, L10). But, they were triumphant in both of their previous European clashes against Leverkusen, although those successes arrived in the 2002/03 Champions League group stage.

Meanwhile, a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in this year’s Champions League group stage means Leverkusen have endured mixed fortunes in their nine UEFA clashes against Italian sides (W4, D2, L3). However, ‘Die Werkself’ have won all four of their Europa League games this season to bring their unbeaten run in the competition to nine (W6, D3). Curiously, three of those four successes came despite a -1 handicap, with six of their nine goals scored across those matches arriving in the second half of play. Particularly lethal in the early stages of the second half, Peter Bosz’s men netted four goals in the first 15 minutes after the interval. Unbeaten in eight consecutive Europa League matches in Germany (W5, D3), Leverkusen boast a solid overall home record in the competition (W11, D5, L2).