sport news Inter arrive in Madrid ready to FINALLY end their 54-YEAR Bernabeu hoodoo

sport news Inter arrive in Madrid ready to FINALLY end their 54-YEAR Bernabeu hoodoo
sport news Inter arrive in Madrid ready to FINALLY end their 54-YEAR Bernabeu hoodoo

What does life after Antonio Conte look like? 

It is a question that Spurs fans aren't expected to ask for some time, but it is one that Italian giants Inter Milan have spent the latter half of 2021 wrestling with.

A cumbersome start followed Simone Inzaghi's summer appointment, with the Nerazzurri coming to terms with not only Conte's departure, but the absence of a focal point in Romelu Lukaku - who left for Chelsea in a £98million move.

Yet a run of 11 games unbeaten has put to bed any concerns for the Serie A champions' aspirations of replicating their sensational 2020-21 campaign.

Inter Milan are soaring in Serie A and arrive in Madrid full of confidence of ending their hoodoo

Inter Milan are soaring in Serie A and arrive in Madrid full of confidence of ending their hoodoo

Inter have closed the gap to league leaders AC Milan to just one point and can usurp Real Madrid to top spot of their Champions League group with an historic victory at the Bernabeu tonight.  

And the Italians are primed to make history in Madrid. Inter have a torrid record in the Spanish capital, with their 1967 win over Los Blancos their only victory in eight visits to the LaLiga side.

Helenio Herrera's great side escaped the Bernabeu with a 2-0 victory in their European Cup quarter final second leg clash, before eventually losing out to Celtic in the final in Lisbon.

The Italians have not registered a victory at the Bernabeu since Helenio Herrera's side in 1967

The Italians have not registered a victory at the Bernabeu since Helenio Herrera's side in 1967

Now, Simone Inzaghi's side will look to snatch top spot of their group from their Spanish rivals

Now, Simone Inzaghi's side will look to snatch top spot of their group from their Spanish rivals

Now, Inzaghi knows that victory can send a clear message - not only in emphasising his credentials as a top coach, but also in announcing that Inter are finally ready to challenge for Europe's biggest prize. 

Italy's clubs have fallen well short of expectations in Europe in recent seasons, with Inter crashing out at the group stage last term and playing Europa League football the season before, while Juventus have fallen further down the pecking order among the continent's elite. 

The feeling in Italy is that victory at the Bernabeu can act as a springboard for Inter and Inzaghi is the man entrusted with finally ending the club's Madrid hoodoo tonight. 

In truth, Inzaghi has not moved far from the 3-5-2 system that worked so successfully under Conte. The 45-year-old has played to his squad's strengths and is prepared for a game of chess with compatriot Carlo Ancelotti. 

After a cumbersome start, Inter are hitting their stride and showing shades of their 20-21 form

After a cumbersome start, Inter are hitting their stride and showing shades of their 20-21 form

Ancelotti, returning to Madrid after his spell with Everton, has stuck with his tried and tested back four that has formed the bedrock of

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