Inter Milan''s Romelu Lukaku battles Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus during a Serie A match in ... [+]
The 2019-20 UEFA Champions League Group Stage continues this week and the marquee matchup of Matchday 3 comes from Group F, the "Group of Death." On Wednesday, October 23 at 3 p.m. EDT, Inter Milan welcomes German giant Borussia Dortmund to San Siro (Galavision; streaming on FuboTV, B/R Live, Univision NOW) for the first of their two group stage matches.
Inter desperately needs a win over Dortmund, as it sits in fourth place with only a single point to its name following a 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague and a 2-1 loss to second-place Barcelona. Dortmund is sitting pretty atop the group through two matches with four points to its name following a 0-0 draw with Barcelona and a 2-0 victory over Slavia. Barcelona also holds four points through two matches but trails on goal differential.
Although it has struggled so far in the Champions League, Inter has gotten off to a flying start in Serie A in the first season under manager Antonio Conte. The Nerazzurri won its first six Serie A matches of the season by a margin of 13 goals to two. They finally tasted defeat in a 2-1 Derby d'Italia loss to Juventus before the October international break but rebounded with a 4-3 win over Sassuolo last weekend. Now Inter sits in second in the Serie A table with 21 points to Juventus's 22.
Dortmund has been in a strong run of form domestically as well, suffering only a single loss so far this season. Die Borussen are undefeated in the last eight matches in all competitions dating back to a 3-1 upset loss to Union Berlin at the end of August. They sit in fourth place in a log-jammed Bundesliga table with 15 points, just a point behind league leader Borussia Monchengladbach, which it defeated 1-0 over the weekend.
Inter and Dortmund have only squared off four times in their illustrious histories. The first two meetings came in the 1963-64 European Cup semifinal which Inter won 4-2 on aggregate. Inter went on to defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in the final to win the first of its three European Cup/Champions League titles. The second third and fourth 1993-94 UEFA Cup quarterfinal which Inter won 4-3 on aggregate. Inter also went on to win that tournament.
Borussia Dortmund attacker Paco Alcacer is doubtful for the contest against Inter. The Spaniard has missed the last three matches with an Achilles injury. However, Dortmund will be boosted by the return of Jadon Sancho, who was forced to sit out the Monchengladbach match by manager Lucien Favre for reportedly returning late from international duty. Inter, meanwhile, will be without defender Danilo D'Ambrosio, midfielder Stefano Sensi and attacker Alexis Sanchez, who isn't expected to play again this year following an ankle injury suffered on international duty with Chile.
WHAT: Inter Milan Vs. Borussia Dortmund
WHEN: Wednesday, October 23, 3:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: San Siro, Milan, Italy
TV: Galavision
All Rights Reserved © 2024
