Champions League – I Love Inter Milan

3 Games to make the Champions League

Inter Milan have three games to go in their Serie A campaign, and they have a four-point gap to close if they are to make the Champions League. Right now, they sit fourth with 66 points, but to reach the Champions League next season they have to finish in the top four, which means catching either Lazio or Roma, who both have 70 points going into this weekend.

The climax of the Italian league at the top will be all about this battle as the title looks all but set to go to Juventus. The giants of Italian football are 1/25 to lift the title in the latest Serie A betting after building a four-point cushion over their only remaining rivals Napoli. With that battle almost certain to be over by the time we reach the final weekend, all eyes will be on Inter Milan and their quest for fourth place, something which looks set to go down to the wire.

One thing going in Milan’s favour over the final three games is that they have two relatively easy games to close the gap and then a game against Lazio, one of their rivals for fourth spot. There is every chance that the race could come down to that game, with a winner takes all scenario which would provide a great end to the Italian season, even though the league title will more than likely be sorted by then. Their first game of the remaining three is a trip to Udinese, a team struggling towards the bottom of Serie A right now.

After facing Udinese, Inter should have another comfortable game in their last home game of the season against Sassuolo. They too are struggling towards the bottom, and anything less than six points from these two games will put an end to the Inter Milan challenge unless either Lazio or Roma make big mistakes too.

Of the teams currently holding onto the final two Champions League spots, Roma have the toughest run-in, which includes a game against league-leading Juventus. That game could be the one that allows Juventus to clinch the title, so Roma look sure to be up against it against them. Lazio won’t have it easy either, they have sixth-placed Atalanta to play this weekend, a team more than capable of taking something off them.

Should Lazio slip up then it is likely to set up a great final game between Inter Milan and Lazio, something the fans would love to see. The winner would make the Champions League next season, while the loser would be left in fifth with a Europa League spot.

Although a four-point deficit remains with three games to go, Inter Milan still have a chance to make the Champions League next season. They are outsiders to make it, but if things go their way it could set up a winner takes all clash with Lazio on the final day of the season.

INTER STILL FIGHTING

Inter Milan continued to fight for their place in the Champions League next season after securing a vital 3-1 over fellow contenders Udinese during the weekend. The huge early season struggles for Inter Milan is well documented, but they are on course to qualifying for the Champions League next season after losing down the gap to the third position to just three points.

Only four matches remain in the Italian Serie A season. While the contenders for the third position – Lazio, Udinese, Napoli, and Roma – are dropping points, Inter Milan continue to get vital three points, as they move closer towards the third position.

The latest victory for the 2010 European Champions came in the match against Udinese, who are one of the favourites to qualify for the Champions League next season.

However, a magnificent performance from midfield maestro Wesley Sneijder helped Inter Milan to a 3-1 win over Udinese. It was Udinese who scored the first goal of the game, but Sneijder scored twice in the match to help Inter Milan move ahead. The club remain unbeaten since the arrival of youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni, who was brought in to replace former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri. Meanwhile, Inter Milan were also aided by the loss of Lazio.

Despite being currently in the third position, Lazio could not hold their advantage, as they were defeated by relegation threatened Novara 2-1 prior to this match. Napoli, meanwhile, maintained their advantage over Inter Milan after securing a 2-0 win over Lecce. Meanwhile, at the top of the table, things continue to be excellent for leaders Juventus as they maintained their unbeaten run in the league. The 1-0 win over Cesena not only kept Juventus in the hunt for the first title since 2006, but also relegated Cesena to the Italian Serie B.

RANIERI GETS EMOTIONAL

Inter Milan manager Claudio Ranieri has said that he will feel like crying if Inter Milan do not progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after their 1-0 lead over Marseille from the first leg.

Inter Milan managed to win the first leg encounter between the two clubs 1-0 with a last gasp goal, which many regard to be the crucial one in this tie.

Due to the fact that it is an away goal, Inter Milan are the favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, while Claudio Ranieri is also nervous because if Inter Milan fail to qualify, then he would feel like crying.
Even though Inter Milan have a significant advantage from the first leg, they have been in extremely poor run of form leading up to this match. The 2-0 win over Chievo during the weekend was their first win in more than 10 matches. They also were unable to score a goal for many matches during this period. As a result, Marseille do have a chance to upset the European champions of a few seasons ago. Meanwhile, Marseille are themselves not in a good run of form right now, as they have suffered four straight defeats.
“Emotion is the most beautiful thing. I do this job to feel emotions, both positive and negative, but to tell the truth the positive ones are better. I hope that on Tuesday against Marseille the San Siro will be full and the fans will be urging us on. It won’t be an easy game, but we’ll try. We have a chance. Let’s try to see what we can manage to do with our fans behind us,” Inter Milan manager Claudio Ranieri said ahead of the match with the French club. Inter Milan will be without defender Chivu, who is suspended.

RANIERI GETS BOOST

Inter Milan manager Claudio Ranieri was handed a major boost ahead of the Champions league encounter with Marseille at the San Siro after his side won 2-0 courtesy of two league goals against Chievo during the weekend.

Inter Milan are coming into the match on the back of a poor run of form, which has seen them score just two goals in their last 10 matches in the league. Despite this poor domestic form, they come into the second leg encounter with Marseille with a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

However, Claudio Ranieri has said that if Inter Milan to progress into the next round, they need to carry all the form they possibly can.

It looks like they will do exactly that after Inter Milan won the league fixture with the Chievo during the weekend in extremely nervous circumstances. Walter Samuel and Diego Milito scored for Inter Milan with few minutes remaining on the clock to give Inter Milan three points. It also helped them to remain in touch with the pack chasing the Champions League positions. Inter Milan have also closed the gap to them and Roma to just one point in the table, while catching Lazio in the third position remains a difficult possibility.

Inter Milan looked extremely dull for 87 min against Chievo, but due to a spectacular solo effort from Walter Samuel, they finally broke the deadlock. Diego Milito soon doubled the advantage for Inter Milan with another effort.

Had Inter Milan not scored in this match as well, then it would have represented their eight match in 10 where they have not scored a single goal. As it is, because of the goals they now have the best Champions League odds of qualifying that they have had since their treble-winning season on 2009/10.

The position of Claudio Ranieri has been under intense scrutiny a few weeks ago, but this result might have just given him the safety barrier to continue with his job.

Inter beat CSKA

Inter Milan reached the last four of the Champions League for the first time since 2003 as they eased to a 2-0 aggregate victory over CSKA Moscow.

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder grabbed the only goal of the game in the sixth minute as his low free-kick found its way through the CSKA wall and beyond goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Things got worse for the hosts when they had substitute Chidi Odiah sent off early in the second half and Inter were comfortably able to repel any pressure from their hosts and coast in the last four.

Inter Milan reached the last four of the Champions League for the first time since 2003 as they eased to a 2-0 aggregate victory over CSKA Moscow.

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder grabbed the only goal of the game in the sixth minute as his low free-kick found its way through the CSKA wall and beyond goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda dragged a long-range effort wide in the early stages for the hosts. But Inter landed an early body blow as they opened the scoring. Midfielder Sneijder drilled in a low free-kick that flew under the leaping wall and fooled keeper Akinfeev to end up in the back of the net.