Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Sheriff Tiraspol, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sheriff Tiraspol will be looking to make it three straight victories in Group D when they continue their Champions League campaign away to Italian giants Inter Milan on Tuesday.
A total of six points from two games has incredibly left tournament debutants Sheriff at the top of the section, while Inter are third, having collected just one point from their opening two fixtures.
Match preview
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Inter's last three Champions League campaigns have ended in the group stage, and it would be fair to say that the Italian champions have work to do in Group D if they are to progress to the knockout round.
The Nerazzurri opened their European campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Real Madrid in the middle of September before playing out a goalless draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine at the end of last month.
Inter now have back-to-back matches against Sheriff and will be targeting six points, as Simone Inzaghi's side look to place themselves in a strong position in the group heading into their final two matches.
The Serie A giants, who were the last Italian side to win the Champions League, tasting success in 2010, have only actually been victorious in three of their last 18 matches in this particular competition.
Inzaghi's team will enter the contest off the back of a disappointing domestic result, meanwhile, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Lazio on Saturday, which has left them in third spot in the table, five points off the summit.
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Sheriff's group-stage campaign to date has been remarkable, with the Moldovan outfit starting with a 2-0 home success over Shakhtar on September 15 before recording a 2-1 victory away to Real Madrid last time out.
Sebastien Thill's 89th-minute effort proved to be the difference at the Bernabeu, with Sheriff securing the biggest result in their history, and the tournament debutants will have no fear as they head to San Siro.
Yuriy Vernydub's team have only lost one of their last nine away matches in European football, recording five wins in the process, and the fact that they have managed to put six points on the board already has left them in a brilliant position to challenge for a spot in the knockout round of the competition.
The Yellow-Blacks have actually won their last five matches in all competitions, including a 4-0 success over Sfintul Gheorghe in the league at the weekend, which has left them in third spot in their domestic table, five points off the summit with three games in hand on leaders Milsami.
Inter Milan Champions League form:
- L
- D
Inter Milan form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- L
Sheriff Tiraspol Champions League form:
- W
- W
Sheriff Tiraspol form (all competitions):
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
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Inter will again be without the services of Stefano Sensi and Gabriel Brazao on Tuesday through injury, but the Italian giants did not suffer any fresh issues against Lazio on Saturday.
There will be changes from the side that started in Serie A, with Lautaro Martinez and Matias Vecino coming into the XI, while Denzel Dumfries could get the nod over Matteo Darmian on the right.
Inter are again set to line up in a 3-5-2 formation here, with Edin Dzeko joining Martinez in attack, while Marcelo Brozovic and Nicolo Barella should both feature in the middle of the park.
Sheriff, meanwhile, will bring a strong squad to San Siro providing that they do not suffer any setbacks in training over the next couple of days.
The same XI that started at the Bernabeu in the team's last Champions League match could again take to the field, with Adama Traore and Frank Castaneda supporting Jasurbek Yaxshiboyev in the final third.
Cristiano has been a standout performer for Sheriff from full-back this season, and the Brazilian will again be in the XI, while Thill should be joined by Edmond Addo in midfield.
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Handanovic; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Vecino, Brozovic, Barella, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
Sheriff Tiraspol possible starting lineup:
Athanasiadis; Costanza, Arboleda, Dulanto, Cristiano; Addo, Thill; Traore, Kolovos, Castaneda; Yaxshiboyev
We say: Inter Milan 2-1 Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff have been outstanding in the competition this season but might come up just short in this match. Inter will be desperate to get their Champions League campaign up and running following two disappointing results, and we are expecting the Italian champions to shade a close contest at San Siro.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data
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