In the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage, Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan will host Kazakhstan’s rising side Kairat at the San Siro.
The clash appears to be a mismatch on paper, with Inter heavily favoured to continue their flawless run and extend their home winning streak.
Last season’s Champions League runners-up, Inter Milan, have carried their strong form into the new campaign.
They opened with a 2–0 victory over Dutch giants Ajax, followed by a 3–0 win against Czech champions Slavia Prague, and then produced an explosive 4–0 rout of Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in the third round.
Currently, Inter Milan sit firmly atop the group table with three wins from three matches and no goals conceded, once again demonstrating their ambition and dominance on Europe’s biggest stage.
Kairat’s Steep Challenge Against a European Giant
In stark contrast, Kairat have endured a brutal campaign so far. The Kazakh side fell 1–4 to Sporting CP in their opener and were then hammered 0–5 by Real Madrid. They managed to stop the losing streak last time out with a goalless draw against Pafos, but their overall form remains poor.
Facing a confident and clinical Inter Milan, Kairat’s realistic goal may be to minimise the damage rather than chase an unlikely upset.
Barcelona Seek Redemption on the Road
Meanwhile, La Liga champions Barcelona will travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge, who are coming off two consecutive defeats.
Barça currently sit ninth in the standings with six points (two wins and one loss), narrowly trailing eighth-placed Manchester City on goal difference. A win away from home could propel them into the top eight and keep their knockout-stage hopes alive.
Benfica Aim to Protect Their Fortress
Another highly anticipated matchup sees Leverkusen take on Portuguese giants Benfica. Despite Leverkusen’s recent setback, the German side will look to regain confidence with a positive result.
Benfica, on the other hand, remain unbeaten in domestic competitions with 13 games without defeat, but has struggled in Europe with three straight losses. How legendary coach José Mourinho translates their domestic momentum into continental success will be a significant storyline.
Marseille Eye Another Win as Atalanta’s Struggles Continue
Elsewhere, French side Marseille will visit Serie A’s Atalanta. Marseille have been impressive this season, winning five of their last six matches across all competitions, including a 4–0 Champions League triumph over Ajax.
In contrast, Atalanta have failed to win any of their previous six games and appear to be in a slump, making Marseille the slight favourite to take all three points.
As Matchday 4 of the Champions League kicks off, the fight for qualification is heating up. With intense clashes between European giants and the ever-present possibility of surprise upsets, fans can look forward to another thrilling and passion-filled night of elite European football.
