Simone Inzaghi is preparing to surprise everyone ahead of Manchester City-Inter, a match that will kick off the new Champions League for both teams. According to Sky Sport, the Inter coach is seriously considering three formation surprises which correspond to as many excellent exclusions for the Etihad Stadium game, one per department.
Let’s start with the defense. Benjamin Pavard should sit on the bench for Inter, with Yann Bisseck taking his position as a starter. For the German, it would be his first appearance since his debut in Genoa, when he caused a handball penalty which then allowed Grifone to draw the match at the last minute. Pavard, for his part, made a marking error on Dany Mota’s goal in Monza.
In the midfield, Henrikh Mkhitaryan should be left out, so far always starting in the first four league matches and generally among the players that Inzaghi never gives up. His place as a left-sided midfielder would be given to Piotr Zielinski who, after making his debut as a substitute in Monza, would be a starter for the first time in a black and blue jersey.
In attack, there’s an exclusion that makes even more noise: Lautaro Martinez out, Mehdi Taremi in. The Argentinian is still goalless and has shown a deficient physical form, also due to his late return to training after the Copa America and an injury that further slowed his preparation, making him miss the second match against Lecce. It is easy to think that Pavard, Mkhitaryan, and Lautaro may then return as starters in the derby against Milan on Sunday night.
