Inter go into Tuesday's Inter vs Club Brugge KV clash with one point of reference that matters more than the badge history. They are top of Serie A, but in the Champions League they are 25th, on 0 points after one match, and already trying to steady a campaign that began with a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.
Inter's European slump
Cristian Chivu's side finished 10th in last season's Champions League league phase, so the start to this one has only deepened the sense that Europe is giving them a different problem from the domestic one. Inter have lost six of their last seven Champions League fixtures, a run that sits awkwardly beside their league form and leaves little room for another slow night.
That is the main reason this fixture feels less comfortable than it might on paper. Inter can point to control in Italy, but the Champions League has already asked awkward questions they have not answered.
Club Brugge's open games
Club Brugge KV arrive with a different kind of issue. They were beaten 3-2 by Aston Villa on matchday one, and their recent European games have tended to turn into open exchanges rather than tight tactical contests.
Their last 16 Champions League matches have produced 66 goals, and they have conceded at least three goals in seven of their last nine European matches. That does not guarantee chaos in Milan, but it does explain why this is not a fixture Inter can expect to control without a fight.
Club Brugge have shown they can make games messy at either end, and that can keep stronger opponents under pressure far longer than a cleaner European side usually would.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
