Inter Milan to progress with Europa League win
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Inter Milan saw off Austria’s Rapid Wien in their Europa League last-32 first leg match a week ago. Inter achieved the away victory thanks to a Lautaro Martinez first half penalty. It wasn’t the most confident win for the Nerazzurri, but they got a much needed away victory and goal.
Luciano Spalletti’s team is one of the favourites to win the Europa League and progression past Rapid would see Inter reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2014-15.
Spalletti watched his team continue its great form with a weekend Serie A win over Sampdoria, 2-1. However, not all is perfect at the San Siro. Spalletti has grown frustrated with star striker Mauro Icardi. The striker has been stripped of the club’s captaincy raising speculation that he may leave the San Siro in the summer.
Rapid Vienna were also successful over the weekend as they hammered Hartberg 5-2 in the Austrian Cup quarterfinals. The good news for Rapid manager Dietmar Kuhbauer is an away goal will even up the aggregate score on Thursday night. Although Inter are playing at home and have a 1-0 away goal lead, Rapid could turn that around on the road. According to reports in Austria, Rapid will have 5,000 screaming supporters backing them at the San Siro. But will it be enough to see Rapid upset the Italians?
Icardi’s issues are not just over no longer being club captain. He is in a dispute over a new contract at Inter. Due to the problems over a new deal, Icardi is not expected to play. His omission takes Inter’s most deadly goal scorer out of the starting XI. Martinez will be counted on the replace Icardi. Despite Martinez having great potential, he doesn’t have the killer instinct Icardi exhibits. Right-back Sime Vrsalkjo is also set to miss out following knee surgery.
Rapid, on the other hand, do not have any fresh injury concerns. Kuhbauer’s team’s chances will be boosted having gone through the weekend’s cup quarterfinal without sustaining any new injury issues. Despite having a full complement of players, Rapid’s form against Italian sides has been poor. They have not won any of their last 10 matches against Italian teams. Seven of those meetings in Europe against Italian clubs have ended in defeat.
Inter will find the goals they need to see off Rapid at the San Siro. Even without Icardi leading the line, Inter are far too strong to fall to the Austrians at home. The Nerazzurri will keep a second straight Europa League clean sheet as they progress to the next round.
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