Inter Milan vs Tottenham preview- Champions League

Game :- Inter Milan ( Ita) vs Tottenham Hotspur (Eng)

UEFA Champions League Group A

Venue :- San Siro, Milan, Italy

20th October 2010 ( 19.45 UK time)

Reigning European champions Inter Milan will look to stamp their authority over Group A when they meet Tottenham Hotspur at the San Siro on Wednesday night.

Both Inter and Spurs have the same number of points in the group, but the former lead it on goal difference. And given the way the first two matches have gone, it seems that Spurs represent the greatest threat to Inter in the group.

Harry Redknapp’s men drew 2-2 in Bremen on Match Day 1 and then thrashed Dutch champions Twente 4-1 at home. However they will be without star playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, who is serving a one match suspension. Van der Vaart has been a real revelation at Spurs following his deadline day switch from Real Madrid and he will be sorely missed on Wednesday night at the San Siro.

Rafael Van der Vaart is suspended
Rafael Van der Vaart is suspended

Spurs also have problems in defence- Injury prone Ledley King picked up a groin problem in the 2-1 weekend win over Fulham and has joined Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul on the sidelines. It means that Sebastien Bassong and William Gallas are likely to play in central defence at the San Siro. Spurs will also be without striker Jermain Defoe upfront.

Inter have a few issues of their own to sort out- the absence of both Goran Pandev and Diego Milito means that the team depends greatly on Samuel Eto’o for goals. The Cameroon skipper has not disappointed them- his goal against Cagliari at the weekend was his 12th in eleven games this season.

Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o

Inter will however be without battling midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in the centre of the park. Rafa Benitez has been forced to employ the likes of Jonathan Biabany and Philippe Coutinho on the wings in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation because of Inter’s lack of depth and Redknapp will hope to use this to his advantage.