Inter Milan take on Tottenham at the San Siro in their first-round UEFA Champions League Group B match. The game promises to be a cracker and although Tottenham may seem a little more balanced on paper, Inter can sure hold their own at home.
Mauricio Pochettino's side will play a balanced, attacking brand of football where a lot of crosses will come in. Luciano Spalletti's boys, on the other hand, will characteristically play deep and lay low, waiting for a chance to come their way.
As one of the biggest showdowns of European football gets underway at the San Siro later tonight, we have compiled a list of five players to watch out for in the match.
1. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Harry Kane's inclusion in the list is a no-brainer. Although the England captain has endured a lean spell of late, he can surely turn up and tap a few goals when his team needs them most. He is a poacher and can terrify opposition defenses with his wayward and tricky runs. Teammate Christian Eriksen recently said that everyone expects Kane to score a hat-trick in every game and that would be exactly what Tottenham fans will want from their number 10 tonight.
2. Lucas Moura (Tottenham)
Pochettino signed Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window but couldn't quite provide him with game time last season. This year, though, he has played up front with Kane and had some fantastic results in the Premier League, especially in the game against Manchester United, whom he single-handedly destroyed. The Brazilian can be creative and single-mindedly attacking. He is definitely one of the players to watch out for in the Inter Milan-Tottenham match at the San Siro.
3. Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)
Apart from scoring one wondergoal from a free-kick, Kieran Trippier has had a lean Premier League so far. He would want to change his fortunes with a good game against Inter Milan. Trippier is creative and brilliant in free-kicks. He can also make quick runs on the right-hand side of the Spurs attack. Trippier can be a little bit shaky defensively but his attacking mindset sets to bed our other concerns regarding him. England made good use of him at the World Cup and Pochettino will hope he can lead Tottenham to a pretty start in the Champions League.
4. Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan)
Ivan Perisic is probably the fastest player with the ball at his feet both teams combined. At the World Cup, he showed us how destructive he can be in providing balls to the forward line and creating chances. The winger prowls on the left-hand side of the attack and latches onto anything that comes his way. He is a danger to defenses and Tottenham have to keep him calm. They cannot afford to give the Croatian even an inch of space, because, if done so, he can destroy them almost single-handedly.
5. Radja Nainggolan (Inter Milan)
After moving to Inter Milan from AS Roma in the summer transfer window for $ 44.3 million, Radja Nainggolan has had a decent show in the Serie A so far. He has only one goal to his name now but has created some fantastic chances for his team. He bosses the center of midfield and provides solidity and stability to Inter Milan. The Belgian was a vital cog in AS Roma's wheel and now plies his trade for Inter. Tottenham needs to keep him quiet because he can have a hostile effect on the game and change its tempo whenever it suits his team's needs. Nainggolan is no newbie to the big arena of the Champions League and can prove to be the X-factor for Luciano Spalleti's team.