Inter Milan lineup vs. Man City: Predicted XI for Champions League opener

Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to recall several first-team stars to his starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Nerazzurri were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw away against Monza in Serie A last weekend after Inzaghi opted to rest some of his key first-team members, with one eye on their huge double-header this week against Man City and Italian rivals AC Milan in the top flight on Sunday.

Yann Sommer is set to retain his place between the sticks, while Alessandro Bastoni is expected to return and link arms with Benjamin Pavard and either Stefan de Vrij or Francesco Acerbi in a three-man defence.

Denzel Dumfries came off the substitutes' bench to score a late equaliser in the draw with Monza and the Dutchman could be recalled at right wing-back on Wednesday at the expense of Matteo Darmian, while Federico Dimarco retains his spot on the opposite flank.

Nicolo Barella watched on as an unused substitute last time out not long after undergoing sinus surgery, but he is expected to be named in Inzaghi's first XI against Man City along with fellow midfielders Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Star striker Lautaro Martinez is yet to score in three appearances so far this season, while Marcus Thuram has contributed with four goals and two assists in four Serie A games, and both strikers are set to link up in the final third at the Etihad, with Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautovic and Joaquin Correa all providing cover on the bench.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez

> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest

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