Inter Milan's lacklustre start in the Champions League with a 0:0 draw away against Manchester City earned the Italian side their first point in the tournament. Over the past two Serie A matches, the reigning Italian champions have shown several weaknesses, but Red Star Belgrade are unlikely to exploit them.
In the recent derby against AC Milan (1:2), Inter's key midfielder Nicolò Barella picked up an injury—he already missed the encounter with Udinese Calcio (3:2) due to a thigh strain. The team handled the mid-table side but is unlikely to replicate such a strong attacking performance just three days later (2.89 xG, 16 shots, and 60% possession). At the Etihad in the previous Champions League round, Inter Milan deliberately played a closed football with a slow midfield to conserve energy for the competition.
Even after making significant signings for European tournaments, Red Star Belgrade struggled against Benfica at home (1:2). In that match, the Serbian side conceded twice by the 29th minute, and after the main full-back Ognjen Mimovic got injured, there were fewer attacks (0.74 xG over 90 minutes). At Giuseppe Meazza, they will be cautious—a second straight defeat would label them as underdogs.
On Saturday, Inter Milan will face a tough match against Torino, who are in Serie A's top five. Against defensive Red Star Belgrade, the Italian club is unlikely to create many goal-scoring opportunities. This situation presents a scenario where one team can't, and the other team won't, aggressively attack.
