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Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v APOEL FC (CYP)

SSC Napoli (ITA) v Chelsea FC (ENG)

AC Milan (ITA) v Arsenal FC (ENG)

FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v FC Bayern München (GER)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v FC Barcelona (ESP, holders)

PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) v Real Madrid CF (ESP)

FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) v SL Benfica (POR)

Olympique de Marseille (FRA) v FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

I didn't have any preference going into this so I guess I'm OK with Marseille.  Arsenal have a shot at Milan while Napoli can definitely bet Chelsea.  The remaining match-ups are just too bland and moring.

Forza Inter!

vs.

Well at least we're guaranteed top spot and in the next round.  Great goal by Alvarez but other than that there's nothing spectacular about this performance.  Pretty lucky not to concede a second as Trabzonspor hit the post in the second half but we also have a few chances as well.  Right result anf Forza Inter!

*****

TRABZON - Here are the starting line-ups for Trabzonspor v Inter, Matchday 5 of the 2011/12 Champions League, which is being played at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium this evening (20:45).

Trabzonspor: 29 Tolga; 5 Cech, 6 Glowaski, 23 Giray, 28 Celustka; 25 Alanzinho, 15 Zokora, 20 Colman, 30 Serkan; 17 Burak, 9 H.Altintop.

Subs: 1 Kivrak, 10 Mierzejweski, 12 Paulo Henrique, 21 Atas, 22 Mustafa, 24 Aykut, 32 Brozek.

Coach: Senol Gunes.

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 55 Nagatomo, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26, Chivu; 19 Cambiasso, 11 Alvarez, 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic; 28 Zarate; 22 Milito.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 7 Pazzini, 8 Thiago Motta, 20 Obi, 23 Ranocchia, 29 Coutinho, 37 Faraoni.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (England).

Prediction: Trabzonspor 1-1 Inter

FORZA INTER

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: THE PRINCE FROM SHOCK ERROR TO SHOW.  INTER WON 2-1.

The Nerazzurri suffer at the San Siro with Lille. 

Samuel opens, Prince's blunder but then scores the double.

ONLY IN EUROPE IT'S THE TRUE INTER

Samuel and then the Prince.  The Nerazzurri have arrived to the last step from the knockout round.

The captain serves an assist to Diego who finally scores.

Some thrilling moments at the final minutes after the goal of Lille.

Milan - At the third minute of the second half with Inter in the lead with one goal, no one has more doubts.  Harry Potter or Wizard of Oz, somebody had done the magic: the Prince, the splendid Matador of the Bernabeu, was disappeared.  From a Sneijder freekick, Stankovic served the ball back to Milito who, all alone, shockingly put the ball over the crossbar and missed the potential match-point.  Dismay more than anger in the stands.  The Prince, dejected, wandered on the field with his head down.  Not only that, he wasted another counter attack and with that, he was just waiting for a substitution.  It's here that Zanetti, one of the best players, anchored his duties as a fullback.  The Argentinian arrived and made a cross like kissing a frog.  Then Milito scored the 2-0 and became a Prince.  Inter-Lille was then transformed into an Argentinian fairy tale because Inter got the lead thanks to Samuel and in the final minutes, Alvarez also deserves applause.

Mission accomplished This win is bringing Inter closer to qualification and first place: mission accomplished thanks to the tie between CSKA at Trabzonspor.  The rest, perhaps will come in time.  But apart from the Lucio's blunder that led to De Melo's goal, the defense responded well with the return of Walter Samuel and the infinite pride of Zanetti.  Lille deserved to lose.  When they had the center ring on the field, they did not know what to do.  Very few punches landed.  They were impotent with only possession and corners.  The involvement of Cole and Harzard was like droplets of the rain.

One is enough Just about two minutes there was already emotion at the San Siro.  Chivu catapulted a long ball for Milito in front of the keeper.  Two seasons ago, that would have been a goal.  Today: crossbar.  Symbol of bad luck.  Another valuable indication is the set pieces.  In fact, Lille got 8 corners in the first half while Inter only had one but that was good enough as Samuel capitalized the corner from Sneijder for the 1-0 at the 18th minute.

Magic The second half started with the little drama of Milito but the San Siro still has him in its heart like sweet cake gave him generous applause hoping that it could be the medicine for the true Milito.  For Lille, after getting their goal, remained soft and blunt.  Inter are just a step away from the knockout rounds, which would make this the 9th time in the last 10 years.  Inter currently have 9 points just like the Treble season.  Forget the comparisons, but it is reasonable to pretend that Harry Potter or the Wizard of Oz, has done an imperfect spell, and perhaps not everything is vanished.  Perhaps something in that treble winning team is still pretty much alive.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

vs.

I didn't see the first half but by judging the second half, I thought we did good to be honest despite the brainfarts from Lucio and Milito.  Much needed victory.  Only if we can manage to up together a few victories in the row.  Next up is Genoa.

*****

MILAN - Here are the starting line-ups for Inter v Lille, Matchday 4 in Group B of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, scheduled for a 20:45 kick-off this evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan's San Siro district.

Inter: 12 Castellazzi; 4 Zanetti, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 5 Stankovic, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 28 Zarate, 22 Milito.

Subs: 21 Orlandoni, 7 Pazzini, 11 Alvarez, 20 Obi, 23 Ranocchia, 42 Jonathan, 48 Crisetig.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Lille: 1 Landreau; 2 Debuchy, 22 Chedjou, 14 Rozhenal, 18 Beria; 27 Jelen, 24 Mavuba, 17 Pedretti; 26 Cole, 8 Sow, 10 Hazard.

Subs: 16 Enyeama, 5 Gueye, 6 Souaré, 7 Payet, 9 De Melo, 11 Obraniak, 21 Bonnart.

Coach: Rudi Garcia.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Lille

FORZA INTER

WARRIOR SNEIJDER

The playmaker of Inter, at Gazzetta headquarter, talks about the Scudetto as a leader.

Eto'o: here for two months? No, it would not be right.

Ranieri: now we are in the right place just like with Mou.

Ibra: I like him.  He is like a street fighter.

• "I am happy that I stay at Inter.  I never thought of going away."
• "Gasperini said that I enjoyed playing as a director?  It is not true and I told him right away."
• "The biggest rival in the race for the Scudetto? Napoli, an organized team."
• "I played with Ibra at Ajax.  He is like me, a street fighter."

WESPLOSIVE

ALL SNEIJDER: "GASPERINI AND RANIERI, HERE'S THE TRUTH.  WE ARE STILL FOR THE SCUDETTO."

"Now we are in the right place just like with Mou.  But we must not stop at 1-0."

Sneijder, things have changed in two months and to think that you could leave Inter...

"I never thought about leaving and others did not know about this.  In fact, I knew when I left for vacation, in my head was an idea of coming back.  Then while I was on holiday my agent called me and said: 'We must speak with Inter.'  Inter had to tell me that, if there was a possibility, I could be sold.  It was not a technical problem, I really don't believe so.  But it was a question of money.  In short, something had changed and I changed my way of thinking too."

And then what?

"Then I arrived in Pinzolo and I found more or less the same team.  I spoke with Moratti, who for me is a great person, Branca, Ausilio and they told me that I am very important to this club."

Sure but until Eto'o was sold, there were no uncertainties.

"One of us had to go and the day of Eto'o's farewell, I realized that I would be the one that is staying.  And I am very happy to do so."

Meanwhile, you were placed as a midfielder.

"With Gasperini, we talked with each other little but about my role, we talked about it a lot.  I told him once that: 'I do not playing in the midfield.'  Because I am an attacker now a midfielder.'

But Gasperini said that you enjoyed playing there?

"He said that I would always have the ball in that position but I like to be more advanced forward and closer to the goal."

So other than as a trequartista, maybe as a second striker?

"Yes I also want to do that provided that I have the freedom to get and as well pass the ball.  I did in Beijing and honesty I must say that we saw the best Inter of this year in that first half, too bad there was the second half."

So?

"So it is better for me to be a second striker than a midfielder.  But I prefer to be behind the two strikers by far."

So where are you today?

"I am being used in the right place by Ranieri who is very good and has figured out how to play this team: each in its place and that is the key.  Now I am in my place, my role.  When he arrived, Ranieri and I talked because he talks a lot with this players that's how I like it."

So it is easier to score or make an assist?

"If I must choose between a goal and an assist, I prefer a beautiful assist without a doubt."

One thing that Ranieri said to you that you like more than others?

"That he wants me here and in my position and that is extremely important for the team.  This charges me up and gives me great confidence.  Another man who knows how to talk to me like Ranieri was Mourinho.  Even though..."

Even though?

"Even though it goes without saying that we continue to look in these coaches a little bit of Mourinho whose presence I can still feel around here.  There is no one like him, no one knows how to treat each individual player like him.  Coming after for Mourinho would have been difficult for everyone, not just Benitez."

Who is after Mourinho in your personal table of those that have coached you?

"Van Basten and then Hank Ten Cate."

The league table is bad huh?

"Yet I say that we can still win the league even if today we have more points in the Champions League.  Because with many matches to be played, you can still recover those eight points difference.  Because after the victory in Lille, we can only look forward even though I never been afraid of having to look back.  Because pretty much all the injured players are coming back: Maicon, Thiago Motta, myself...  Because the hunger for victories never goes away: if you won, you want to win more."

"ETO'O HERE FOR TWO MONTHS? NO IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT."

"If he comes and who is playing and who is going to the bench? I would like to team up with Messi but at Inter."

And what about the opponents of Inter in the table this year?
"I would say that Napoli are in front of everybody.  Not the one that I saw at the San Siro: we did well in the first half and then they got a penalty and it was 11 against 10.  For them it was all easy.  I say the Napoli that are well organized and playing as a team.  I really like him."

And Juve?  They don't have to spend their mental and physical effort on the Champions League?

"If you win, the Champions League doesn't have any weigh at all and we know it well."

Weigh on your shoulders as one of the leaders?

"In the contrary, it helps me as well as my national team.  As I said earlier on Monday in Lille, under pressure, I have played the best games of my career."

Three examples?

"The first derby that I played after arriving in Milan for one day.  A home game with the Netherlands because when you play in the national team, you are always under review.  Against Chelsea in London in the year of the treble."

The ability of playing under pressure is born or made?

"I don't know.  I know that I have always been the same.  Yeah I grew up in a tough neighborhood and I was not even the tallest player so I had to always fight with the bigger players than me.  And then there was the Ajax school where they teach you to have a little bit of arrogance to say that: 'This is easy to win.'  A mixture of these two things have helped me a lot as a player."

Ibrahimovic also attended Ajax school.

"We played together.  I like his character and occasionally I see him in Milan.  I am a bit like him, a street fighter."

But he fights too much no?
"I have also lost my head in so many games in 12 years and once I got a four-match ban.  I do not regret it: sometimes it's nice to argue.  It's good for you."

What now at Inter?

"First, win against Chievo, Atalanta.  Then win against Juve and it will be a turning point."

Well, that true turning point could very well be Inter-Juve.

"It is also true to a certain extent the possible wins against Chievo and Atalanta, which can also give us confidence to beat Juve.  Because if you lose or draw one of these games, then it is likely that you do not win even against Juventus."

And the second thing?
"Learning to play close games.  If we have the 1-0 lead, we must try to make it 2-0.  So far, what we are doing is this when we have the 1-0 lead: 'Ok, we scored a goal, let's all back to defend now.'  At Lille I was afraid, at some point I started to shout: 'Come on, let's go.'  I discussed about this to Ranieri, my teammates.  It is very important."

Have you shouted to Lucio to not leave the defense?

"I always say to him that 'do not go forward, stay there.'"

And Zarate?

"He understands everything without me saying anything.  It's easy to play with him."

And Forlan?
"Just always attacking and you will see.  The beginning he was on the wing and could not do well there."

And Alvarez?
"Ricky is young and always does great things in training.  Then when he plays as if he is afraid or something.  Or as if he wants to do too many things all at once.  Just play simple and easy."

It's so hard to win the Golden Ball?

"At this point to do that I think I have to win something with Holland: the World Cup or maybe even Europe.  But those who believed that not winning it last year was the biggest disappointment of my career do not understand anything because it was something I did not really care about.  Because to win the Champions League, you have to do it on the field which we did but to win the Golden Ball, someone has to decide that for you.  There is a difference."

But what was the biggest disappointment in your career?

"That I did not win the World Cup.  I would still be crying if I think about it so that means that it still hurts me."

So we try again at European tournament?
"Holland is among the favorites with Spain and Germany.  Italy? I don't have you in the top three, I'm sorry."

How do you beat Spain?
"If perhaps Van Bommel can give me an assist like the one he gave the other night to Brassen of Bate Borisov..."

Easier K.O. to deal with?  Spain with Holland or Barcellona with Inter?
"Between Real and Barcelona, I would still root for Real but when we talk about Barca, we talk of another world.  Playing against them is very difficult.  The only way to beat them is to play a game like Inter did at the San Siro when we won 3-1."

That day Eto'o did not score but are you missing him?

"We lost a great player.  A player who helped the team a lot."

And if he returns in January?
"I read and heard about this.  But I also heard that it is impossible.  I don't think that it will happen.  It would not be good or right if it happens."

Why?
"Samuel is a great friend but it would mean that coming back here for two months and then leave again?  Today there is this Inter and we must play with this team.  Otherwise, what would happen?  Who is playing today if Eto'o comes and who is going to the bench for two months?"

Milan did it with Beckham.

"That's a whole other thing.  How many shirts did Milan sell with Beckham? With Eto'o, it would not be about merchandising.  Maybe at Anzhi, but not at Inter."

A player that you would like to have as a teammate?

"Messi, but he must come here to Inter."

That is too easy.

"Rodney also, my brother."

But he said that in Italy, football stinks.

"No, the Dutch media got it wrong or someone misinterpreted it badly... However, to avoid any doubt: I like the Italian league, I like the pressure here.  In Spain, you could win almost all matches, even away from home.  In Italy, you can lose in Novara and Catania.  So it's more fun."

More fun to play for Manchester United or City?

"I will tell you this Sunday.  Who is playing at home?  United? Then City win."

How much do you miss your wife Yolanthe?
"Very but rightly so.  She is in Los Angeles with CAA (Creative Artist Agency) and working for major contracts.  We have not seen each other for three weeks but I am happy for her."

INTER: FORWARD WITH PAZZO

Sneijder and Zarate inspired, Pazzini scored: Lille beaten (1-0). 

Nerazzurri are top in the group.

EURO REVALUES INTER

Magic from Pazzini directed by Sneijder: next to last in Italy is now first in the Cup.  With Ranieri, the Nerazzurri have always won in Europe. 

Lille hit almost immediately, then Julio Cesar barricades a defense that up to yesterday was always beaten away from home.

Lille (France) - Happy birthday Ranieri.  Tomorrow, he will turn 60 and did very well to celebrate it in advance with this important victory on the field of Lille and takes Inter in the command of the group.  In the relegation zone in the league while in a promotion zone in the Champions League because at odds of 6, Zanetti and company are close to qualify for the knockout stage by looking at other three teams from top to bottom: two more points than CSKA and Trabzonspor and four on the French champions.  And for the first time this year, Inter did not concede away goals after having allowed 14 in six official games.  Not only that, it was on the field of an opponent that scored in 13 previous home matches in Europe.  For Inter, a draw would have been fine but judging how they played in the first half as well as how they defended in the second, it was well deserved three points.  The 1-0 was scored in the first half by Pazzini.  Julio Cesar saved the entire second half but the game was prepared to perfection by Raneiri, before and during the match because he is the real architect of redemption.

Gamble Zarate The difficult moment of Inter, crisis in results, plays and trust, in contrast with the need to win against Lille to restart itself in the league, it seemed to have convinced Ranieri to field a team more compact, with one more midfielder and one less striker.  And instead there was Zarate who has only started two other times under Gasperini against Palermo and Trabzonspor.  In addition, there is also the return of Motta who was absent since August 6 in Beijing as a central midfielder, along side Zanetti and Cambiasso with the new defensive pair in Lucio and Chivu.  So many unknowns compensated by a certainty: the return of Sneijder who immediately makes you turn on the light of hope.

• 21st minute in the first half - Inter celebrate: Pazzini celebrates the winning goal with Sneijder (who initiated the action.  Behind are Zarate and Maicon.
• The wall Julio Cesar - At least three decisive saves: One of many saves by Julio Cesar last night in Lille.  The Inter goalkeeper, on his return, was decisive in rejecting the assaults by the French as they were hunting for the draw.
• The suffering from the president - In the stand there was also Moratti: Massimo Moratti in the stands with wife suffering due to the cold and also because of Inter.

New security Not by chance that it was the Dutch that challenges their goalkeeper to a freekick but beyond that his importance is all Inter need in order to convey a new sense of security.  Zarate is often accused of being an individualist was the first to play for the team by pulling back to the middle of the field just like Pazzini and the rest.  And also about the lines between the departments, we see the great work tactically and psychologically of Raneiri, while Lille seemed shrunken and frightened in the face of superior opponents especially in terms of personality.  And while Julio Cesar remained incredibly unoccupied, Inter continued growing and got a deserved goal with a great action, initiated by Sneijder who found Zarate on the left, Pazzini arrived on time to be on the end of the cross.  At this point, answer from the French champions was expected but Hazard offered more smoke than light just like the central striker Sow who did not scare Lucio.

Movement Obi The strength of desperation plus their play pushes Lille to raise the pace in the second half.  Balmont, right midfielder, started forcing Cambiasso to the wing more than expected.  The Argentinian started to retreat more often.  Things began more and more dangerous on the half of Inter with Julio Cesar ready to save everything going his way.  So Ranieri decided to shrink the team even more.  He was brilliant but Zarate was replaced by Obi in the new 4-4-1-1, then transformed to 4-5-1 when Stankovic replaced Sneijder.  The plan was perfect from start to finish.  Milito then came in for Pazzini.  Perhaps the worst is already in the past, in the night that Inter and Zanetti celebrate his 100th game in the Champions League.  But now we must beat the worst in the league.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

vs.

Three golden points and there's no other way to put it.  Zarate, Sneijder, Cambiasso, Pazzini and Julio Cesar (MOTM) were great.  Chivu had his own mistakes but overall, a solid performance as a CB.  Defensively, we got a clean sheet and I can't really complain there but we folded way too soon.  Would like to see us going for the kill when we are one goal up instead of defending the lead to save our life. 

Anyway, we must and should be able to win this group with two out of the next three at home.

*****

LILLE - Here are the starting line-ups for Lille v Inter, Matchday 3 of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, which kicks off at the Stadium Lille Métropole at 20:45 this evening.

Lille: 16 Enyama; 2 Debuchy, 25 Basa, 22 Chediou, 18 Beria; 4 Balmont, 24 Mavuba, 17 Pedretti; 26 Cole, 8 Sow, 10 Hazard.

Subs: 30 Mouko, 5 Gueye, 7 Payet, 11 Obrianiak, 14 Rozehnal, 21 Bonmart, 27 Jelen.

Coach: Rudi Garcia

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 26 Chivu, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 7 Pazzini, 28 Zarate.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 16 Caldirola, 42 Jonathan, 5 Stankovic, 20 Obi, 48 Crisetig, 22 Milito.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri

Referee: Howard Webb (England).

Prediction: Lille 2-1 Inter

FORZA INTER

It's time for the third round of the group stage in the Champions League. Inter will travel to France and play against the French champion Lille OSC. Every Interista knows how bad our team is playing, yet Internazionale is one point above Lille in the Champions League table. Inter lost their opener at the San Siro against Trabzonspor and won away against CSKA Moskva while Lille OSC drew two games in a row with the other two teams.

The league has gone even worse for Inter as they have hit a new crisis. First the loss against Napoli 0:3 which evidently Inter lost due to an incompetent referee and last Saturday the Nerazzurri lost a match against Catania Calcio 2:1. On top of this we have been hit with some injuries, without players like Forlan, Samuel, Ranocchia, Coutinho. All Interisti are hoping for Poli's comeback but he injured himself yet again in a training match. The good news is that our midfield Maestro Wesley Sneijder will be avaiable tomorrow, as well as Julio Cesar and Chivu ( not sure if Chivu is fully recovered though).

Lille OSC has won their last two matches in the league, beating Rennes with 2:0 and beating Auxerre 1:3.  Lille have some great players in their squad, Mossa Sow and especially Eden Hazard who was a big transfer target for many clubs in Europe this summer. Mossa Sow scored the most goals in Ligue 1 last season and he has a great shot of repeating it this season. He has scored two goals in the league and three in the Champions League. Eden Hazard has scored four goals so far in the League 1. On a side note, Lille also have some other players, most notably Joe Cole who came from Liverpool. But Inter shouldn't let their guard down, as they have a big game player named Ludovic Obraniac. The Polish midfielder is superb at passing and freekicks.

This match will not be an easy one. Inter are not playing with their best squad and they are in a crisis. LIlle are playing at home and are seen as the favourites by the bookmakers. Kick off is at 20.45 C.E.T 18th of October at the Stade Lille Metropole de Villeneuve and will be refereed by Howard Webb.

vs.

Wow that was nerve wrecking.  We have the occasional screw-ups but we did enough to win.  On their first goal, I think we can all blame Julio Cesar on that one.  The ball was just a few inches away to his left and he couldn't save it.  But there was one time that he saved a sure goal from the same player, Dzagoev so I guess it's even.  On their second goal, I don't know what was going through Lucio's head but he just let Love went by him without doing anything to stop him. 

Anyway, enough with the negatives, what about that goal by Zarate huh?.  Chested the ball down and just blasted to the corner with the left foot.  Not only that, he also created so much havoc in their defense when he came on.  Nagatomo also did good.  Totally owned their left back on Pazzini's goal.  Should have had a fourth goal because Chivu was not in an offside position.

Great win by the boys and this could only help psychologically.  Grande Inter.

*****

MOSCOW - Here are the starting line-ups for CSKA Moscow v Inter, Matchday 2 of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, being played at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow this evening (20:00 local time, 18:00 CET).

CSKA Moscow: 30 Gabulov; 14 Nababkin, 24 V. Berezutski, 4 Ignashevich, 6 A. Berezutski; 22 Aldonin; 26 Oliseh, 10 Dzagoev, 9 Vagner Love, 17 Mamaev; 8 Doumbia.

Subs: 1 Chepchugov, 2 Semberas, 19 Cauna, 21 Tosic, 25 Rahimic, 48 Popov, 59 Fedetov.

Coach: Leonid Slutsky.

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 55 Nagatomo, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Obi; 11 Alvarez; 7 Pazzini, 22 Milito.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 16 Caldirola, 42 Jonathan, 48 Crisetig, 29 Coutinho, 28 Zarate, 94 Romanò.

Coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Sco); assistants Andrews/Ross, fourth man Allan, additional assistants McLean/Madden.

Prediction: CSKA 1-2 Inter

FORZA INTER

On Tuesday at 18.00 C.E.T Inter will face CSKA Moscow at the Luzniki stadium in the second round of the prestigious UEFA Champions League. In the first round Inter lost in an embarrassing match against Trabzonspor, a Turkish side which entered the tournament late due to Fenerbahce was kicked out and Trabzsonpor took their place.

Both Inter and CSKA played on Saturday in their respective leagues so they could prepare well and rest before their encounter in Moscow. This will be a much tougher match than Bologna and Inter should not underestimate their opponent.  Inter won their last football match, playing Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara with 3-1. CSKA's last match also ended with a win against Volga Nizhny Novgorod with the same numbers as Inter. Inter, now lead by their new coach, Claudio Ranieri have improved much just after one game. They went back to the original backline and both the defense and offense looked much sharper than before.

CSKA is second to Zenit in the RPL table at the moment but only with a two point difference. Our beloved Nerazzurri jumped up through the standings, although it is still disappointing to see such a team with such caliber with four points after four matches.

Looking at the squads, the Russian side have a big gap to fill in their formations. Two of their key players are injured for a longer time; the Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev and the Japanese attacking midfielder, Keisuke Honda.

Inter will be without Viviano, Poli, Obi, Cordoba, Motta, Forlan and their main star, Wesley Sneijder. Popular Wes will be out to late October. These are not good news to the Nerazzurri faithful, but some wound cleansing would of course be the return of the best right back of the world Maicon, and of course Dejan Stankovic.

Something interesting to watch out for in this match will be the Ivorian player Seydou Doumbia. He transferred to CSKA in 2010 from Young Boys, and has already scored 15 goals for the Russians this season. Our backline should be very sharp, because the forward teams up with four year old Vagner Love, and without great concentration these to players can hurt our team very badly.

vs.

Barcelona 2-2 Milan, Manchester City 1-1 Napoli, Inter 0-1 Trabzonspor.

I have nothing to say.

*****

MILAN - Here are the 22 starters for the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 fixture between Inter and Trabzonspor, which kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe in Milan's San Siro district at 20:45 this evening.

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 42 Jonathan, 6 Lucio, 23 Ranocchia, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Obi; 28 Zarate, 7 Pazzini, 10 Sneijder.

Subs: 21 Orlandoni, 11 Alvarez, 22 Milito, 25 Samuel, 29 Coutinho, 37 Faraoni, 44 Bianchetti.

Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Trabzonspor: 29 Tolga; 28 Celustka, 23 Giray, 6 Glowacki, 5 Cech; 20 Colman, 15 Zokora; 30 Serkan, 25 Alazinho, 9 Halil Altintop; 12 Paulo Henrique.

Subs: 91 Sevim, 11 Vittek, 22 Mustafa, 24 Akgun, 27 Sapara 32 Pawel Brozek, 63 Ferhat.

Coach: Senoul Gunes.

Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Swe)

Prediction: Inter 3-1 Trabzonspor

FORZA INTER

DEFENSE OF 4, SNEIJDER, OBI, PAZZINI: THE MOVES FOR A STRONG RESTART

Three more minor doubts and one question remain: Gasperini to change tactics only tonight or forever?

Against Trabzonspor, new formation for the Nerazzurri.  Now Inter restart with Sneijder and Pazzini.

Gasperini: "Corrections needed."  Defense at four.

A POKER OF NEWS - THE COACH IS LOOKING TO TURN IT AROUND

Sneijder as trequartista - Sneijder is now starting and not being forced to play on the left side but instead, he'll play in his favorite position: move freely behind the strikers in a more central location.

Pazzini returns - Pazzini to get up from the bench and this move is not a smack in the face of Milito.  It is not easy to just give up the goals of Pazzo who demonstrated it this summer.

Focus on Obi - Trabzonspor focus strongly on physical condition so in the midfield, fresh legs, speed and rhythm are needed.  Obi in Palermo has given very good signals.

Defense of four - Defense of four to start and not only with the retreat of one of two fullbacks: to choose reliability of a formation that the team knows in memory.

Appiano Gentile - Changes are coming compared to what happened in Palermo but also to certain guidelines in the summer, convictions revised and corrected in the laboratory of pragmatism.  The doubts remain for tonight are that the uncertainties of Gasperini with this formation, in the memory of his old habits and formation was decided at the last minute even for this team.  Doubt about Inter-Trabzonspor: Gasperini is going to change tonight but is he going to change just for a short period of time or forever?  Soon you will have the answer on the field.  Another doubt is that if the steering in tactics of Gasperini was the result of weakness or reasonableness, and the latter can cancel out the former on the field.

Also thinking of Roma First thing first: the immediately reality is that there is the Champions League tonight, there's Trabzon, there is an immediate need for oxygen after the two slaps in the face in the first two games of the season.  Changes, again, are coming but perhaps even more than expected.  Because the return to the back four was already in Gasp's plan right away after the defeat against Palermo.  He could also take into account also the starting spot of Ranocchia who is in the running with Samuel.  The Argentinian has just recently from a long injury and maybe needs a little rest in view of Inter-Roma on Saturday.  The immediate choice of 4-3-1-2 is a bit more obvious.  Sneijder will be free to do the job of a trequartista, his favorite position as he will try to sew the midfield and the attack behind the strikers.

Zanetti in his place From behind, there are Jonathan and Nagatomo who could find it easier to alternately pushing and advancing on the wings.  In the midfield there is Zanetti who will return to be a midfielder along side with Cambiasso and the freshness of Obi should also be there even though that Gasperini will do a little bit of thinking before deciding whether to start Stankovic.  And in the attack there would be Zarate who on Sunday night seemed bewildered and helpless.  Maybe this time when he will play closer to the goal will be necessary for him to be awaken his talented instincts that were missing in Palermo.

Gazzetta dello Sport

GASP TO CHANGE: HERE'S WHY

False start for Inter.  After the defeat in Palermo, Champions League test arrives immediately.

The formation, shaky defense, players out of position, attack cannot take off, possible remedies.

So the coach of Inter is preparing to correct the track: starting tomorrow with Trabzonspor.

GASPERINI IS THINKING TO CORRECT HIS INTER.

Five questions for him to answers and an emergency: between Trabzonspor and Roma, his future is at stake.

There are, so it seems at least, two substantial differences between Gian Piero Gasperini and Rafa Benitez, his predecessor a year ago began the season limpingly (and then we know how it ended) and thus represents the spectrum of a precedent that can be a problem.  First: the team believes in the coach and his ideas more than what happened last  year, though they will soon need to see the effectiveness of all the things that they are doing in training on the field.  The second: Benitez was self-imprisoned with handcuffs of his own stubbornness by staying true to certain ideas that at the moment were incompatible with Inter; Gasperini seems willing to consider that his ideas or beliefs are not untouchable dogma.  One of the many to recognize this quality of Gapsperini, after being cornered in a sort of chess game on the field, was Jose Mourinho: one that started at Inter using the 4-3-3 but then he was able to admit that Inter, at that time, did not have the suitable players to play it.  In five questions, we will try to understand how Gasp will handle this delicate moment.

1. Some changes, tactically, are already for tomorrow night?

That is a possibility that cannot be left out.  Changes that could be for the defense with a more rigid defensive line of four because for the attack, Gasperini will find it difficult to give up the three strikers.  A solution that gives stability to that department as he is also waiting to get a better balance in the defense collectively.  The coach still does not seem to take for granted the need to model his ideas based on the men he has as he remains convinced of being able to realize his ideas with those he has.  But at the same time, he does not hide the urgent need in his defense during this delicate moment and knows that, with the offensive potential that he has in Inter, not allowing goals would be winning half a battle.

2. Is the defense or defensive phrase a problem?

This question is rhetorical.  There is no defensive model that cannot be penalized or exalted by collective participation when a team doesn't have the ball.  But it is also true that in the absence of this assumption, a line of three can be in difficulty more easily.  Especially if the contingency leads to the suffering of the two central midfielders with the risk of sudden vertical penetrations.  The contribution of the two outside midfielders in Jonathan and Nagatomo as Maicon is still out due to injury for Gasperini.

3. Why can't the attack take off earlier?

Only after the 2-2 in Palermo, and just shortly before suffering the double blow for the KO, that we saw Inter in an offensive attacking football of Gasperini though the first two goals were not the result of it and the third was a situation of nostalgia for the 4-3-1-2 (assist from Wesley Sneijder in the midfield for Forlan with a move from a pure striker) and for the rest, Tzorvas, Palermo keeper, had a quiet evening.  Not only that, convincing Sneijder to take the role of a winger has been going on for a while now and in Palermo suggests that there is not much time for Forlan and Zarate to adapt to their new roles.  Lastly, we have the central striker situation and that is one of Milito and Pazzini must accept the idea of rotation.

4. A problem of players out of position?

They are not completely out of position but there is a need to adapt to the new role.  We would say that, on paper, almost all the players seem perfect for a 4-3-1-2.  Or at least, in case of central defenders, they would be perfect for a line of four.  For Sneijder, trequartista is obviously his position; Forlan appeared to be penalized due to tiredness for being on the wing and he, perhaps, is playing to far away from the goal; Zarate did not leave with the features of a Gasperini winger; and Zanetti, as a central defender, also has his doubts.

5. Are the next two matches decisive?

The head of Gasperini is not already under the sword of Democles due to Moratti's impatience but rather of his very high level of attention.  The president refuses the idea of having another bad start like last season and in this sense, all radars are well lit: if against Trabzonspor and Roma, problems continue to exist or the difficult period, then Moratti could trigger an examination of the situation which would be deeper that one currently in these days.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport

FCINTERNEWS.IT have confirmed the list of players that Gian Piero Gasperini has chosen to play the group stages, already in September, the players are:

1 Julio Cesar; 4 Javier Zanetti; 5 Dejan Stankovic; 6 Lucio; 7 Giampaolo Pazzini; 8 Thiago Motta; 9 Diego Forlan; 10 Wesley Sneijder; 11 Ricardo Alvarez; 12 Luca Castellazzi; 13 Maicon; 16 Luca Caldirola; 19 Esteban Cambiasso; 20 Joel Obi; 21 Paolo Orlandoni; 22 Diego Milito; 23 Andrea Ranocchia; 25 Walter Samuel; 26 Cristian Chivu; 28 Mauro Zarate; 29 Philippe Coutinho; 37 Marco Davide Faraoni; 42 Jonathan; 44 Matteo Bianchetti; 48 Lorenzo Crisetig; 55 Yuto Nagatomo; 91 Raffaele Di Gennaro; 93 Daniel Bessa; 94 Andrea Romanó; 95 Marek Kysela; 96 Giovanni Terrani.

It is time to make choices for Gian Piero Gasperini. In his list for Champions League, some new signings are missing, Castaignos ex-Feyenoord and Poli ex-Sampdoria, the list can be viewed by anyone on the official site of Inter, www.inter.it.

FC Internazionale Milano send a list to UEFA with all the players signed for the first stage of the UEFA Champions League 2011-2012.

The list contains 31 players, 4 of then are locals (formed in Inter's youth system), another 4 of then are locals B (formed in Italy's format).  Six youngsters, who are in list B, complete the players list so now it is all set to start the new European season.

 Group A

FC Bayern München (GER)

Villarreal CF (ESP)

Manchester City FC (ENG)

SSC Napoli (ITA)

Group B

FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)

LOSC Lille Métropole (FRA)

Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR)

Group C

Manchester United FC (ENG)

SL Benfica (POR)

FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

FC Oţelul Galaţi (ROU)

Group D

Real Madrid CF (ESP)

Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

AFC Ajax (NED)

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

Group E

Chelsea FC (ENG)

Valencia CF (ESP)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

KRC Genk (BEL)

Group F

Arsenal FC (ENG)

Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

Olympiacos FC (GRE)

Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Group G

FC Porto (POR)

FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)

APOEL FC (CYP)

Group H

FC Barcelona (ESP)

AC Milan (ITA)

FC BATE Borisov (BLR)

FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)

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The risk of getting an easy group is the embarrassment if we don't make it.  Reinforcements.

Here are the results of the Round of 8 of the UEFA Champions League:

Real Madrid - Tottenham Hotspur: 4-0 (4' + 57' Adebayor, 72' Di María, 87' Ronaldo / - )

Tottenham Hotspur - Real Madrid: 0-1 ( - / 50' Ronaldo)

Real Madrid proceed to the next round.

Internazionale - Schalke 04: 2-5 (1' Stankovic, 34' Milito / 17' Matip, 40' + 75' Edu, 53' Raúl, 57' Ranocchia (og))

Schalke 04 - Internazionale: 2-1 (45' Raúl, 81' Höwedes / 49' Motta)

Schalke 04 proceed to the next round.

Chelsea FC - Manchester United: 0-1 ( - / 24' Rooney)

Manchester United - Chelsea FC: 2-1 (43' Hernández, 77' Park / 77' Drogba)

Manchester United proceed to the next round.

FC Barcelona - Shakhtar Donetsk: 5-1 (2' Iniesta, 34' Alves, 53' Piqué, 61' Keita, 86' Xavi / 60' Rakitskiy)

Shakhtar Donetsk - FC Barcelona: 0-1 ( - / 43' Messi)

FC Barcelona proceed to the next round.

Top Scorers

1. L. Messi (FC Barcelona, 9 goals)

2. S. Eto'o (Internazionale, 8 goals)*

-. M. Gomez (Bayern Munich, 8 goals)*

4. N. Anelka (Chelsea FC, 7 goals)*

5. K. Benzema (Real Madrid, 6 goals)

-. C. Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 6 goals)

-. R. Soldado (Valencia CF, 6 goals)*

(note: * out of competition)

vs.

Ahh, it's over.  No more waking up in the middle of the night praying for a miracle.  This team needs new blood.  Listing the useless players right now would be pointless.  We need an overhaul.  I'm talking about Genoa type of changes.  No more players that don't want to be here or they are not motivated to play for this team.  Moratti, it's your turn to prove that you are the best president in the world of football.

FORZA INTER.

Schalke 04: 1 Neuer; 22 Uchida, 21 Metzelder,  4 Howedes, 2 Sarpei; 11 Baumjohann, 32 Matip, 14 Papadopoulos, 18 Jurado; 7 Raul, 9 Edu.

Subs: 33 Schober, 5 Plestan, 8 Hao, 13 Schmitz, 15 Charisteas, 16 Karimi, 31 Draxler.

Coach: Ralf Rangnick

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 15 Ranocchia, 55 Nagatomo; 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta, 5 Stankovic; 10 Sneijder, 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 14 Kharja, 19 Cambiasso, 23 Materazzi, 27 Pandev, 29 Coutinho.

Coach: Leonardo

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slo)

Prediction: Schalke 2-5 Inter (3-4 in PKs) 

FORZA INTER

APPIANO GENTILE - Leonardo has called up 22 Nerazzurri players for Schalke 04 v Inter, the return leg of quarter-finals of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League, to be played on Wednesday 13 April at the Veltins-Arena inGelsenkirchen.

Goalkeepers: 1 Julio Cesar, 12 Luca Castellazzi, 21 Paolo Orlandoni;

Defenders: 2 Ivan Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Lucio, 13 Maicon, 15 Andrea Ranocchia, 23 Marco Materazzi, 25 Walter Samuel, 55 Yuto Nagatomo;

Midfielders: 5 Dejan Stankovic, 8 Thiago Motta, 10 Wesley Sneijder, 14 HoussineKharja, 17 MacDonald Mariga, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 20 Joel Obi, 29 Philippe Coutinho;

Forwards: 9 Samuel Eto'o, 22 Diego Milito, 27 Goran Pandev.

=====

He might not even make the bench on Wednesday so the purpose of including Wally is perhaps to encourgage the rest of the guys.  I don't even want him to play in this game.  What I want is for him to play the last 5 games or so in the league.

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING.  IMPOSSIBLE IS SOMETHING WINNERS TAKE A SHIT ON!

MILAN - Here are the starting line-ups for Inter v Schalke 04, the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg that kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan's San Siro district this evening at 20:45.

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 15 Ranocchia, 26 Chivu, 4 Zanetti; 5 Stankovic, 8 Thiago Motta, 19 Cambiasso; 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 2 Cordoba, 14 Kharja, 17 Mariga, 23 Materazzi, 27 Pandev. 55 Nagatomo.

Coach: Leonardo

Schalke 04: 1 Neuer; 22 Uchida, 4 Howedes, 14 Papadoulos , 2 Sarpei; 17 Farfan, 32 Matip, 11 Baumjohann, 18 Jurado; 7 Raul, 9 Edu.

Subs: 33 Schober, 3 Escudero, 5 Plestan, 8 Hao, 13 Schmitz, 16 Karimi, 31 Draxler.

Coach: Ralf Ragnick.

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Prediction: Inter 3-1 Schalke 04

FORZA INTER

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I'm looking forward to this game. I want to see a bunch of pissed of players giving 100% no matter how "weak and easy" Schalke 04 are. I want to see a roaring Giuseppe Meazza filled with fans who want to support and believe in this team doesn't matter how tough this season has been. Lastly, I want a convincing victory which can boost our guys' confidence in this last part of the season.

FORZA INTER.