PREVIEW: Inter take on rank outsiders Kairat at San Siro in the Champions League | OneFootball

As both sides prepare to be the first ever teams from Italy and Kazakhstan to face each other, Inter are on a fantastic run of form, having won nine of their previous 10 matches in all competitions while the Kairat have recently been crowed champions of their domestic league.

The Italian giants may have reached the final of the previous Champions League campaign, however they did suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, that the side’s second final defeat in three seasons. The 5-0 drubbing was a massive comedown after they defeated tournament favourites Barcelona in one of the best Champions League ties in recent memory.

They still rank amongst Europe’s elite and are making another great mark on this season’s campaign as one of five teams to have won all of their opening three Champions League games. Inter have already put Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise and Slavia Prague to the sword this season as they look almost certain to make the automatic progression places in this season’s league phase.

They are also the only side bar Arsenal to keep a clean sheet in all of their games so far: a spotless record so far this season. Spearheaded by the in form Lautaro Martínez, the Nerazzurri have scored twice in 10 of their previous 11 Champions League games. They haven’t quite replicated this form in the league but seemed to have turned things around slightly and now sit within one point of leaders Napoli.

Following their victory at the weekend, they are in good stead to continue their fantastic form in Europe against newcomers Kairat.

The Kazakhstani side are yet to win a game at Europe’s top level, after qualifying for the Champions League by taking down Scottish champions Celtic on penalties. They since have had a fair few harsh reality checks since that ground-breaking night for the club.

Slumping to a 4-1 defeat away at Sporting Lisbon, Kairat were then thrashed by giants Real Madrid 5-0. A goalless draw away at fellow minnows Pafos has done little to compound the misery Kairat have seem so far this season. It is a massive David and Goliath matchup and the minnows will do well to keep the score respectable. Their fixtures haven’t been kind so far and they will come up against yet another European giant but with their league finishing in such a positive light, Kairat can play with the freedom that brings shock results to the forefront.

Inter face no new injury concerns since their victory at the weekend and may heavily rotate again, Martínez is all but guaranteed to start as the Argentine looks to continue his fantastic form.

Kairat look set to deploy Chelsea bound youngster Dastan Satpaev in the absence of starting striker Edmilson.

Predicted line-ups

INT: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Martínez, Esposito