Inter Milan face a potential headache as three key players – Lautaro Martinez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Kristian Asllani – stand on the tightrope of a one-yellow-card suspension in the Champions League. This precarious situation could see them miss the crucial Round of 16 second leg against Atletico Madrid.
With the first leg set for kickoff at San Siro on Wednesday, February 21st, at 20:00 GMT, the looming threat of suspension adds another layer of tension to the already high-stakes encounter. Unlike the group stage, yellow cards accumulated in the knockout rounds carry forward, meaning a single caution for any of the aforementioned Inter players would rule them out of the return leg scheduled for March 13th at the Wanda Metropolitano.
While Inter fans have reason to fret, Atletico Madrid appear slightly better off in this department. Only Samuel Lino faces a similar suspension risk, leaving Diego Simeone with more flexibility in his squad selection for the second leg.
However, the worry for both teams extends beyond the Round of 16. Yellow cards accrued in the first two knockout rounds persist until the quarter-finals are concluded. Only from the semi-final stage onwards are accumulated cautions wiped clean, offering a clean slate for the final.
Inter’s midfield maestro, Marcelo Brozovic, serves as a cautionary tale for both sides. He missed the crucial final Champions League group stage match due to yellow card accumulation, highlighting the potential impact of such suspensions on team performance.
With pivotal matches on the horizon, both Inter and Atletico Madrid must walk a fine line between aggressive play and avoiding unnecessary cautions. The threat of missing crucial knockout fixtures adds another dimension to the tactical considerations for both managers, potentially influencing their approach to the upcoming encounter.