History spurs on Artmedia

'Great expectations'
It was not enough to take Slovan through, but the Slovakian team's performance that night still resonates as Artmedia embark on their first UEFA Champions League campaign. "There is great expectation among the players," Weiss said. "Everybody is very excited about making their Champions League debut."

Weiss relaxed
Weiss was relaxed as he spoke to the press ahead of Tuesday's Group H tie. Having surprised Celtic FC then FK Partizan in qualifying, the Slovakian champions have already surpassed expectations. "I remember watching the Inter game 23 years ago, but everything is different now," he said.

'Huge motivation'
Except perhaps the thrill of facing the Italian giants at the same Tehelné Pole stadium. "Each game in the group stage is a huge motivation for us. I don't need to talk to the players - to play against the likes of [Luís] Figo and Adriano is maybe the best motivation for any player in Europe."

'Great challenge'
Weiss used Friday's 3-0 defeat of FK AS Trencín to give debuts to new signings Lukáš Hartig and Aleš Urbánek. Both will take on Inter with Urbánek replacing the suspended Balázs Borbély in the centre of midfield. Weiss insisted he will not build a particular defensive strategy to cope with Adriano, "because Inter have so many attacking options". He is clearly relishing a tactical battle. "For me personally, it's a great challenge to play against [Inter coach Roberto] Mancini," Weiss said.

Palermo defeat
Mancini himself was giving little away as he contemplated changes to the side that unexpectedly lost 3-2 at US Città di Palermo on Saturday. Adriano looked sluggish in Sicily on his return from international duty, but Mancini said he was unlikely to rest the Brazilian. "Adriano was tired, he played two games in four days," Mancini said. "But it's not easy to play without him. Adriano's presence on the field is very important for the whole team. He can turn a game."

Figo starts
The defeat was just the third in Serie A under Mancini and Inter were uncharacteristically exposed at the back. Walter Samuel may return to partner Iván Córdoba in central defence while in midfield Dejan Stanković and Figo will come into the team, allowing Juan Sebastián Verón to take his customary place in the middle after proving ineffectual on the right against Palermo.

'Different performance'
"I'm sure we can't repeat the performance in Palermo," Mancini said. "Everything went wrong but you will see quite a different display on Tuesday. It was perhaps our first blunder after many months." It might have lowered the high expectancy levels surrounding Inter this term, but Mancini has faith in his side. "I'm quite sure we will win," he said. "With all respect to Artmedia, I know my players and what they can do. We have to respect the team that eliminated Celtic and Partizan and we are far from underestimating Artmedia. It will be a very a tense game."

Košice first
Artmedia certainly hope so. When 1. FC Košice became the last Slovakian club to reach the group stage eight years ago, they were eliminated without winning a point. Few expect Artmedia to better that record tomorrow, but stranger things have happened at the Tehelné Pole stadium – as Inter know from their own experience 23 years ago.