Photo by Oscar Federico Bodini / CC BY SA 2.0

The disappointment of the World Cup is over, as are the intricacies, intrigue, dealings and double-dealings of the transfer window. The season is starting with renewed optimism that (almost) always greets us at this time of year. There is something on the horizon, however, a question mark that is becoming harder to answer. Realistically, what is Inter’s chances, hopes and expectations in this year’s Champions League compared to their European rivals?

Spanish dominance?

Of the last twenty Champions Leagues, ten of them have been won by one of the two Spanish giants. That by itself is a worrying statistic. Focus in on the last ten years, and it gets even more stark, with Barcelona notching up three successes and Real Madrid four. To get upset, look at the last five competitions. Barca won it in 2015, and the other four times — including the last three — have all gone to Madrid. Also, there is the small matter of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, who has done wonders in closing the gap on the perennial double act and will go into the season with renewed expectations after their victory over Real in the UEFA Super Cup. Especially, with the Champions League final played at their new stadium.

This season is a pivotal one for Real. After setting the benchmark so high in recent years, it will not take much for it to appear to be a disappointing 10 months. It is the first one without you know who, and of course, Zidane has left. Picking up the reigns at the Bernabéu is never straightforward and with Atletico breathing down their necks in the league, it could be a very challenging season for Florentino Pérez.

Barcelona will be looking for more of the same but will be desperate to bring the Champions League back to Catalonia. The transfer window has seen a much-needed focus on youth, suggesting they are looking longer term than this season, but they have enough world-class talent to ensure they will be there or thereabouts come June.

English resurgence?

Photo by Thomas Rodenbücher / CC BY SA 2.0

Out of all the nations with clubs that have a realistic chance of lifting the world’s premier club competition, only England had a summer to be proud of in Russia. I am discounting PSG, as I feel their lack of real competition week in, week out will be telling come to the latter stages. The biggest threat from over the channel is Manchester City. They were magnificent last season in the EPL, sweeping all aside, and though they have not made wholesale changes this summer, they did not need to and have brought in the very impressive Riyad Mahrez. Pep Guardiola’s side is the favorites to retain the title, but he will very much want to share his focus on the Champions League and have the squad depth to do that.

On their day, they can beat anyone. That is also very true for the competition’s runners-up last year. Klopp’s Liverpool has beaten City the last three times they met, scoring eight goals in the process. Though they will also have their eyes on the EPL title, no one will want to draw Liverpool in the knockout stages.

German retreat?

Though one of the biggest clichés in football is never write of the Germans, I am going to do that. Bayern won the Bundesliga by 21 points last season, which says more about their competition than them, but they will enter the 2018/19 campaign at somewhat of a crossroads. They have a new coach, Niko Kovač, at the helm, who will be implementing his ideas and philosophy. He has spent very little in the transfer market, and no one has come in who would set the fans’ pulses racing or send the opposition manager’s hearts into their throats. They will undoubtedly have enough for domestic honors, but it is unlikely they will pull up many trees in the last eight of the Champions League.

Italian renaissance?

That is perhaps the number one question of all. Inter had as good a transfer window as they could desire, and throughout Italy, it is plain that Serie A is once again a league with which to be reckoned. Fighting on two, three fronts at once is likely to prove too much for perhaps all four of the teams, and where does their priority — in their heart of hearts — lie?

That is the question that is at the nub of Inter and their fellow Serie A rivals. It is a question that can only be answered come February. If the title is looking a long shot, I would expect Spalletti to throw his weight behind the Champions League challenge at the potential cost to a few Serie A points. We will not be the favorites, but we have the team, and perhaps the individuals to cause an upset, and I would not be too surprised if we were not lining up on June 2nd in Madrid.

The post How Does Inter Fit Into The Champions League Landscape? appeared first on Sempreinter.

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