Inter Milan will be looking to join Barcelona in the last-16 stage of the Champions League when both teams round off their Group F campaign with a clash in Italy on Tuesday night, report agencies.
Barca have already booked their spot in the knockout round as group winners, but Inter are battling Borussia Dortmund for the second qualification spot. Inter's task is actually quite simple; win and they would be guaranteed a spot in the knockout round of the competition. Antonio Conte's side could also lose and still go through providing that Dortmund do not pick up a draw or better against Slavia Prague in the section's other fixture.
Both Inter and Dortmund have seven points to show from their five matches, but the Italian side are second on the head-to-head record, meaning that Dortmund will have to rely on Barca picking up a result if the Bundesliga giants are to sneak into the last-16 stage of the tournament.
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez have formed an impressive partnership in the final third of the field, and both players will surely need to be at their best if the hosts are to pick up a positive result on Tuesday. The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last nine matches with La Liga opposition on home soil, although they have recorded just three wins during that run. A point could be enough to book their spot in the next round but with Dortmund expected to triumph on home soil in the other match, Inter might well have to beat Barca to make the round of 16.
The Catalan giants have not always shown their best form this season, but Messi appears to be back to his best after overcoming some injury issues earlier in the campaign. The Argentina international, who was crowned the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner last week, has managed 14 goals in 15 appearances at club level this season.
