Inter vs Atlético de Madrid Champions League round of 16 first leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, possible line-ups

Inter and Atlético de Madrid meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday 20 February.

Where to watch Inter vs Atlético de Madrid on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

The sides are meeting for only the second time in UEFA club competition, with their first encounter coming in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup, when Europa League winners Atlético prevailed 2-0 against European champions Inter at the Stade Louis II in Monaco thanks to goals from José Antonio Reyes and Sergio Agüero.

Simone Inzaghi's Inter made it through the group stage unbeaten (W3 D3) and have been excelling in Serie A, where they top the table. Atlético are a little off the pace in the Spanish Liga, but also did not lose a game in the group stage (W4 D2), and coach Diego Simeone will be enthused at the prospect of returning to Inter, where he played from 1997 to 1999, notably winning the UEFA Cup in 1997/98.

Possible line-ups

Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martínez, Thuram
Misses next match if booked: Asllani, Martínez, Mkhitaryan

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Savić, Giménez, Hermoso, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Saúl; Griezmann, Llorente
Misses next match if booked: Lino

Squad changes

Inter
In: Tajon Buchanan
Out: Juan Cuadrado

Atlético de Madrid
In: Gabriel Paulista, Horațiu Moldovan, Arthur Vermeeren
Out: Çağlar Söyüncü, Javier Galán, Ivo Grbić

Form guide

Inter
Form: WWWWWW
Most recent result: Inter 4-0 Salernitana, 16/02, Italian Serie A
Italian Serie A table

Atlético de Madrid
Form: WLLDWW
Most recent result: Atlético de Madrid 5-0 Las Palmas, 17/02, Spanish La Liga
Spanish La Liga table

Expert predictions

Paolo Menicucci, Inter reporter
After reaching the final last season, Inter have enough confidence to try another assault on the trophy they won for the third and last time in 2010. The Nerazzurri seem stronger than last campaign with Marcus Thuram proving to be the perfect partner for Lautaro Martínez in attack – the Argentinian has already scored 19 goals in Serie A this term alongside the French forward – and Yann Sommer shining, the Swiss goalkeeper having already earned 14 clean sheets in Serie A and 19 in all competitions. Inter have also won all their seven games in 2024 in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and conceding four in the process.

Alexandra Jonson, Atlético de Madrid reporter
Atlético have been one of the most difficult teams to stop offensively this season with the duo of Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata ripping most defences apart. However, Diego Simeone will likely have to do without Morata in the starting line-up at San Siro, which could turn out to be a huge blow for Los Rojiblancos. Despite their almost unstoppable attack, their defence has struggled a lot this season. With Atlético off the pace in the league, the Copa del Rey and Champions League are now where they have to show their worth.

What the coaches say

Simone Inzaghi, Inter coach: "Atlético are a fantastic team, and they have been playing at a high level for several years. It will be a great pleasure to see Diego Simeone again. He was a fantastic team-mate, and I always knew he would make a great coach."

Diego Simeone, Atlético de Madrid coach: "It will be a very difficult tie. Inter are extraordinary at the moment; I like how they play. Last year they went on a great journey in this competition. I still have wonderful memories of my time in Milan."

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

©Getty Images

The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season concludes at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.