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Two sides desperate to pick up their first win in Europe this season meet at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium as Real Madrid host Inter Milan in Tuesday's crunch Champions League encounter.
With just one and two points respectively from the opening two games, they're languishing in the bottom half of the group behind perceived minnows Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Monchengladbach.
So the next two fixtures, starting on Tuesday, will be absolutely crucial in determining their fate - Los Blancos have never been knocked out in the group stages whereas the Nerazzurri haven't progressed into the knock-outs in any of their last three European excursions.
There's so much on the line here and expect both teams to go all hammer and tongs at each other. Ahead of the mouth-watering kick-off, let's look at how Real and Inter stack up in an intriguing combined XI: (Formation: 4-2-2-2)
Note - Selections have been made only from the pool of available players.
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan- Combined XI
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Samir Handanovic and Thibaut Courtois are both excellent goalkeepers, but the latter gets the nod here due to his superior overall record this season.
The towering Belgian has been rock-solid at the back for Real Madrid, making incredible saves and even keeping three clean sheets so far.
Although his last four appearances haven't yielded any shutouts, that was more due to a fragile defense rather than Courtois's own shortcomings.
He possesses an excellent positional sense which sees him block so many efforts from close range whereas his tall stature helps him excel in the air too. The Nerazzurri aren't going to have it any easier against him.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi (Inter Milan)
Achraf Hakimi will be coming up against his former side for the first time, and he'll want to prove a point. The Moroccan has grown in leaps and bounds since leaving the Bernabeu in 2018, starring for Dortmund during two highly successful loan spells and now taking the Serie A by storm with Inter. He's scored once and assisted twice already but will be eager to open his account in Europe against the team which undervalued his talent.
Center-back: Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
The Dutchman has established himself as a regular in Inter's defense since arriving from Lazio in 2018, while Conte's tactics of playing three at the back has unlocked an extra level or two in his game.
His positional sense is excellent and passes are accurate, averaging 94% so far this season. Stefan De Vrij's secret weapon, however, is his set-piece prowess as he's scored plenty of goals from them.
Center-back: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Can any center-back really hold a candle to the Madrid skipper? He's always at the right place at the right time to deny the opposition with crucial blocks and clearances, while his expertise from the spot is pretty amazing too - Ramos has dispatched each of his last 25 penalties!
Left-back: Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
With Marcelo on the decline, Mendy has stepped up to take become Madrid's first-choice left-back with aplomb. The 25-year old possesses excellent close control and makes superb deliveries going forward, all the while fulfilling his defensive responsibilities without any compromises.
Central midfielder: Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan)
While the attacking stars in the squad constantly make the headlines, Marcelo Brozovic is the unsung hero who keeps it all together for his side. He's a pass master, driving the ball out of crowded areas to diffuse a danger whilst also laying incisive through balls for attackers to latch onto. His ball-control is excellent and he can be a threat at set-pieces too.
Central midfielder: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Casemiro is so crucial to bringing balance to this Real Madrid side that he's almost undroppable. He was substituted at the weekend in the Huesca game and just five minutes later, Los Blancos conceded! Co-incidence? Not so much. Besides, the Brazilian is also capable scoring goals in crucial moments, as the stoppage-time equalizer against Gladbach will tell you.
Attacking midfielder: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)
Eden Hazard returned to the line-up for the first-time this season in Saturday's victory and instantly made an impact, scoring one and creating one. He showed plenty of quality in that game, twisting Huesca inside out with his pace, energy, and dribbles. More of that will be needed against Inter if he starts again with the Whites still looking for their first win in Europe this season.
Attacking midfielder: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Top Midfielders at 35 generally seek new challenges in lower leagues, but Luka Modric continues to rule the roost at the top. The evergreen Croatian was very instrumental to Madrid's title success in the summer and has started in the new season in a rich vein of form too. He brings plenty of guile and urgency to his team, while his ability to score from anywhere is a lethal asset too.
Striker: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
He may have started the season slowly, but Karim Benzema is finally getting back into form. The French assassin was on target against Borussia Monchengladbach last week before netting twice against Huesca on Saturday. His intelligent positioning and movements inside the area, as seen at the weekend, will be a cause for concern for the Nerazzurri's fragile defense.
Striker: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
With his strike partner Romelu Lukaku sidelined, the task of producing the goods upfront will fall solely on the shoulders of Lautaro Martinez, who's been erratic this season so far. He looked unstoppable at times in the initial weeks of the campaign, but has gone AWOL in the last few outings. The Argentine has scored thrice in six games, but is yet to open his account in Europe, and now is the most ideal time to get off the mark.
