Inter Milan pin last hopes on Champions League

7msports > Soccer Video > Inter Milan pin last hopes on Champions League

Wednesday, February 22 2012 by SNTV

Intro:

Inter Milan will be hoping to put their domestic woes behind them and perhaps give their season the re-boot it needs when they take on Marseille in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday night.

Claudio Ranieri's side have shipped 15 goals in losing five of their last six games, have lost touch with the leaders in Serie A and are out of the Coppa d'Italia.

On the plus side, Ranieri will have will have striker Diego Milito and midfielder Dejan Stankovic available and Uruguayan international striker Diego Forlan could make his European debut for Inter after being ineligible for the group stage.

Script:

Claudio Ranieri's Inter Milan familiarised themselves with the playing surface at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night, just 24 hours before their Champions League last 16 first leg match with Marseille.

Inter might be looking forward to the encounter, as it could prove some welcome relief from their troubles back home.

They've been out of form, out of goals and now out of the domestic trophy races.

The Champions League is the last chance of some silverware for the 'Nerazzurri' this season.

Inter have lost five of their last six games, conceding fifteen goals along the way.

Fourteen points behind Serie A leaders and arch rivals Milan, they've already been dumped out of the Coppa d'Italia.

But it was only two years ago that Inter lifted the Champions League trophy for the third time in their history.

A fourth trophy seems unlikely.

But for Ranieri's side, a win against Marseille on Wednesday might just be enough.