Atlético Madrid vs Inter Milan: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Champions League 2025/26

On: November 24, 2025 8:42 PM

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Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Match Preview

A heavyweight European clash takes center stage at the Metropolitano this Wednesday as Atlético Madrid host Inter Milan.¹ This fixture is a collision of contrasting fortunes in the Champions League League Phase. Diego Simeone’s Atleti are fighting for stability, sitting 17th with 6 points, while Cristian Chivu’s Inter are flying high in 3rd place with a perfect record of 4 wins from 4.²

However, momentum tells a different story. Atlético arrive fresh off a gritty 1-0 win over Getafe, extending their winning streak to five matches.³ Inter, conversely, are licking their wounds after a painful 0-1 Derby della Madonnina loss to AC Milan.⁴ With Simeone facing his former club and Chivu looking to prove his managerial pedigree on the biggest stage, this match promises tactical discipline, fiery intensity, and world-class quality.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Atlético Madrid vs Inter Milan⁵
Competition: UEFA Champions League (League Phase – Matchday 5)⁶
Venue: Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid (Capacity: 70,692)⁷
Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025⁸
Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Thursday)
Referee: François Letexier (France)
TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports 1
TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports
TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV, JioTV
Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA), SonyLIV (India)

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Atlético Madrid:

Position: 17th in Champions League (6 Points).⁹
Form: Resurgent. After a shaky start, they have reeled off 5 consecutive wins in all competitions, including a 3-1 win over Royale Union SG in Europe and a 1-0 victory against Getafe.
Current Challenge: Climbing the table. Sitting 17th puts them in the playoff zone, but Simeone wants to push for the top 8 automatic spots.

Inter:

Position: 3rd in Champions League (12 Points).¹⁰
Form: Strong but dented. They were unbeaten in Europe (scoring 11 goals), but the 0-1 loss to AC Milan in the derby was a reality check for Chivu’s side.¹¹
Current Challenge: Bouncing back immediately. Chivu needs to ensure the derby hangover doesn’t ruin their perfect European record.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — What’s at Stake

For Atlético Madrid:

Statement of Intent: Beating one of the tournament’s form teams (Inter) would prove Atleti are genuine contenders again. A win takes them to 9 points, vastly improving their knockout chances.

For Inter:

Top Spot Pursuit: A win would move them to 15 points, virtually guaranteeing a top-8 finish and likely keeping them in the race for the #1 seed.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Team Form

Atlético Madrid (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Getafe (1-0)¹²
W vs Levante (3-1)¹³
W vs Royale Union SG (3-1 – CL)¹⁴
W vs Sevilla (3-0)¹⁵
W vs Real Betis (2-0)¹⁶

Inter (Last 5 Matches):

L vs AC Milan (0-1)¹⁷
W vs Lazio (2-0)¹⁸
W vs Kairat Almaty (2-1 – CL)
W vs Verona (2-1)¹⁹
W vs Fiorentina (3-0)²⁰

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Team News

Atlético Madrid:

Marcos Llorente: Doubtful (Hamstring Injury – Injured early vs Getafe).²¹
Robin Le Normand: Out (Knee Injury – Out until December).²²
Jan Oblak: Listed in predicted lineups, but missed the Getafe game with a knock.²³ Juan Musso is on standby if the Slovenian isn’t 100%.²⁴
Julián Álvarez: Expected to lead the line alongside Griezmann, looking to add to his goal tally.²⁵

Inter:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Out (Thigh Injury – Big loss for midfield control).
Denzel Dumfries: Out (Muscle Injury – Mid-December return).²⁶
Matteo Darmian: Out (Muscle Injury).
Raffaele Di Gennaro: Doubtful (Broken Hand).
Lautaro Martínez: Subbed off early in the derby but Chivu confirmed it was tactical.²⁷ He is fit to start.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Head to Head

10 Oct 2025: Atlético Madrid 1–1 (4-2 pens) Inter (Friendly)²⁸
14 Mar 2024: Atlético Madrid 2–1 Inter (CL – Atleti won on pens)
21 Feb 2024: Inter 1–0 Atlético Madrid (CL)
12 Aug 2018: Atlético Madrid 0–1 Inter (ICC)
28 Aug 2010: Inter 0–2 Atlético Madrid (Super Cup)

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Predicted Lineups

Atlético Madrid (4-4-2):

Simeone sticks to his hybrid 4-4-2/5-3-2. Giuliano Simeone could start on the right if Llorente misses out.

GK: Jan Oblak (or Juan Musso)²⁹
RB: Nahuel Molina³⁰
CB: José María Giménez (C)³¹
CB: Dávid Hancko³²
LB: Matteo Ruggeri³³
RM: Giuliano Simeone
CM: Pablo Barrios³⁴
CM: Koke³⁵
LM: Álex Baena³⁶
ST: Antoine Griezmann³⁷
ST: Julián Álvarez³⁸

Inter (3-5-2):

Chivu relies on his trusted back three.³⁹ Bisseck steps in for the injured Pavard/Darmian options.

GK: Yann Sommer
CB: Yann Aurel Bisseck
CB: Stefan de Vrij⁴⁰
CB: Carlos Augusto (Playing as LCB or LWB depending on Dimarco’s role)
RWB: Manuel Akanji (Filling in at RB/RWB role due to injuries)
CM: Davide Frattesi
CM: Nicolò Barella⁴¹
CM: Piotr Zieliński
LWB: Federico Dimarco⁴²
ST: Francesco Pio Esposito⁴³
ST: Lautaro Martínez (C)⁴⁴

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Impact Bench Options

Atlético Madrid:

Alexander Sørloth: The towering Norwegian offers a completely different threat if Atleti need to go long in the final 20 minutes.
Rodrigo Riquelme: Adds pace and direct dribbling if the game opens up.

Inter:

Marcus Thuram: Surprisingly listed on the bench in favor of Esposito? If so, he is a world-class impact sub who can destroy tired defenses.
Mehdi Taremi: A chaotic presence in the box who wins crucial headers.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Tactical Outlook

Atlético Madrid:

Playing Style: Controlled Aggression. At the Metropolitano, Simeone demands intensity. They will press Inter’s back three to disrupt the build-up, with Griezmann dropping deep to link play.⁴⁵
Weakness: Right Flank Defense. With Llorente doubtful and Molina attacking, the space behind them is perfect for Federico Dimarco to exploit.

Inter:

Playing Style: Vertical Possession. Chivu has evolved Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 into a slightly more direct system. They will look to bypass Atletico’s midfield press with quick transitions through Barella and Frattesi.
Strength: Midfield Runners. Even without Mkhitaryan, the runs of Frattesi into the box are a nightmare for defenders.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Nahuel Molina vs. Federico Dimarco	Wing-Back War: Both love to attack. Dimarco is currently one of the best in the world; Molina must force him back or risk being pinned.	Inter
Koke vs. Nicolò Barella	Captain’s Clash: Koke controls the tempo; Barella brings the chaos. Barella’s energy might be too much for the veteran Koke over 90 mins.	Inter
José Giménez vs. Lautaro Martínez	South American Duel: A physical battle. Giménez won’t give Lautaro an inch. Expect fouls, cards, and intense duels.	Tie

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Spotlight Players

Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid):

“La Araña” faces his national team strike partner. His work rate is key to Simeone’s pressing system. He needs to drag Inter’s center-backs wide to create space for Griezmann.

Lautaro Martínez (Inter):

The Inter captain was quiet in the derby. He thrives on big European nights. His link-up play with Esposito/Thuram will determine if Inter can break down Atleti’s stubborn block.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Fan Reactions

Atlético Fans:

“We knocked them out last time, we can do it again! The Metropolitano will be boiling.”

“Griezmann masterclass incoming. Inter aren’t ready for our intensity.”

Inter Fans:

“Chivu better not mess this up. We need a reaction after the Milan loss.”

“Esposito starting over Thuram? That’s a bold call in a Champions League game.”

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Where to Watch

UK: TNT Sports 1
USA: Paramount+
India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
Italy: Sky Italia

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Match-Defining Factors

The “Chivu” Response: This is Chivu’s first massive European test after a defeat. Can he motivate the squad, or will heads drop?
Home Advantage: Atlético are a different beast at home. Inter’s perfect record hasn’t been tested in an atmosphere like this yet.
Injury Impact: No Mkhitaryan for Inter and potentially no Llorente for Atleti changes the dynamic of the midfield battle significantly.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Prediction

Score Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1–1 Inter

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Draw.
Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Two tactically disciplined teams).
Card Count: Over 5.5 Cards (Simeone vs Chivu + H2H history = Cards).

Analysis: Inter are technically superior, but Atlético’s momentum and home advantage level the playing field. Chivu will be desperate not to lose two big games in a row, likely leading to a cautious approach. Simeone will respect Inter’s counter-attack. A tight, tactical stalemate is the most likely result.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — Final Word

It’s a rematch of that dramatic penalty shootout tie. Atlético Madrid are surging, while Inter are stumbling for the first time this season. In the cauldron of the Metropolitano, expect a battle of wills rather than a goal-fest. Both teams might ultimately settle for a point that keeps their respective European campaigns on track.

Atlético Madrid vs Inter — FAQs

When is the Atlético Madrid vs Inter match?

The match kicks off on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at 21:00 CET (Thursday 01:30 IST).46

Is Marcos Llorente playing?

He is listed as Doubtful with a hamstring injury sustained in the weekend game against Getafe.

Who is the Inter coach?

Cristian Chivu is the manager of Inter Milan for the 2025/26 season.47

Where can I watch the match in India?

You can watch live on Sony Sports Network and stream on SonyLIV.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

Can Chivu bounce back, or will Simeone reign supreme at home? Drop your score predictions below!

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