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Tactics & Lineups FC Internazionale Milano · Friday, 16 October 2026 at 21:03 CEST

Inter Milan Grapples with Injuries and Champions League Woes Ahead of Bologna Clash

Inter Milan faces a challenging period with key injuries and disappointing Champions League results, impacting their financial outlook.

predict.game Sources: 6 ↓

In short

  • Lautaro Martínez is sidelined with a flexor injury, expected to miss at least seven games, including the Milan derby.
  • Inter Milan's Champions League campaign has been disappointing, with recent losses impacting their financial projections.
  • Players like Marcus Thuram, Pio Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny are anticipated to step up in Martínez's absence.

Injury Woes and Key Absences

FC Internazionale Milano is facing a significant challenge with the injury to key player Lautaro Martínez. The forward has sustained a flexor injury and is expected to miss at least seven games, including the crucial Milan derby [1]. His absence is a major blow, as Martínez is considered a key player for the club [2]. In his stead, players like Marcus Thuram, Pio Esposito, and Ange-Yoan Bonny are expected to step up and fill the void [1]. Pio Esposito is confirmed to play in the upcoming match against Bologna due to Martínez’s injury [3]. Other vital players for Inter include Alessandro Bastoni, who is described as a cornerstone of the team, Federico Dimarco, a wing-back known for his attacking prowess, and midfielders Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Piotr Zieliński, and Nicolò Barella [4]. Manuel Akanji and Marcus Thuram-Ulien are also identified as key figures for the club [2].

Champions League Disappointment and Financial Implications

Inter Milan’s performance in the Champions League has been a source of disappointment, with the club experiencing a losing streak of four games in the competition [5]. Their recent 3-4 loss to Club Brugge, where Nicolo Tresoldi scored a hat-trick, highlighted these struggles [5]. This poor run has raised concerns about the financial implications for the club, as reaching the Champions League last 16 is estimated to be worth €18-20 million [6]. The club’s finances are at risk due to these Champions League results, which could also impact potential player sales [6]. Cristian Chivu is currently the coach of Inter Milan [6]. Despite these European setbacks, Inter is noted for being built around different parameters compared to other Serie A clubs [4].

What it means

FC Internazionale Milano currently sits at the top of Serie A, having accumulated 16 points from 6 games. Their domestic form has been strong, with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses, scoring 18 goals and conceding 8. This impressive league performance contrasts sharply with their recent Champions League struggles, which include a 3-4 home loss to Club Brugge and a 1-2 away loss to Real Madrid. Their last Serie A results show a 3-0 home win against Parma Calcio 1913 and a 2-2 away draw against AS Roma, indicating a solid, if not flawless, domestic campaign. The upcoming fixture sees Inter travel to face Bologna. Despite the challenges posed by Lautaro Martínez’s injury and the recent European form, the site’s forecast predicts an Inter win with a 60.0% probability and a predicted score of 1-2, suggesting confidence in their ability to maintain their strong league position.

Sources

  1. Football Italia: Lautaro Martinez injury: Inter captain set to miss Milan derby football-italia.net ↩
  2. Football Italia: Football Italia Show: Champions League disaster, has Tresoldi already decided? football-italia.net ↩
  3. Football Italia: Today’s Papers – Cissé makes history, Lautaro shocks Inter football-italia.net ↩
  4. Football Italia: Benitez: Italy are not short of talent, but must focus on two things football-italia.net ↩
  5. BBC Sport: Tresoldi hat-trick fires Club Brugge to victory over Inter in seven-goal thriller bbc.co.uk ↩
  6. Football Italia: Inter finances at risk as Champions League struggles mount football-italia.net ↩

Written by predict.game's models from the sources listed. How our content is made →

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  4. Inter 2-1 Fiorentina: Every model called the winner, two nailed the scoreTransfers & Contracts, 26 Oct