Everything on... Inter

Nothing less than a victory will do with our Champions League future hanging in the balance ahead of our return meeting with Inter at Wembley on Wednesday.

Christian Eriksen gave us the lead against the Italian side at the San Siro in our opening Group B match back in September but Luciano Spalletti’s side rallied and took the points with goals from Mauro Icardi and Matías Vecino late on.

Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents...

Team news

Šime Vrsaljko will miss the match after suffering a thigh injury in Croatia’s 2-1 defeat against England in the UEFA Nations League at Wembley.

Coincidentally, the full-back also missed our opening meeting after picking up a knee injury on international duty.

One to watch

Mauro Icardi’s goalscoring record speaks for itself and we found out to our cost how devastating he can be in the first meeting between the sides this season.

The Argentinian forward joined Inter from Sampdoria in summer 2013 after scoring 10 goals in his first Serie A campaign and has been a spectacular success ever since. His last four full seasons have spawned 91 goals in only 137 top-flight games and Icardi’s powers have showed no sign of waning this term as he has plundered seven in nine Serie A matches.

The flamboyant and sometimes controversial striker is as capable of producing spectacular finishing as he is snaffling predatory efforts and has taken his domestic form onto the Champions League stage with three goals in four Group B games. He also scored his first international goal on his eighth appearance last Tuesday as Argentina beat Mexico 2-0.

Last five meetings

18 September, 2018 – Inter 2-1 Spurs – UEFA Champions League, group stage
14 March, 2013 – Inter 4-1 Spurs (AET) – UEFA Europa League, round of 16
7 March, 2013 – Spurs 3-0 Inter – UEFA Europa League, round of 16
2 November, 2010 – Spurs 3-1 Inter – UEFA Champions League, group stage
20 October, 2010 – Inter 4-3 Spurs – UEFA Champions League, group stage

Previous clash

Our opening Group B match ended in disappointment as we conceded two late goals at the San Siro to fall to defeat against Inter on 18 September.

Christian Eriksen’s deflected strike in the 53rd minute gave us a deserved lead and we appeared to be heading for victory until Icardi produced a sensational volley from outside the box to beat Michel Vorm in the 85th minute.

Inter were rejuvenated and their late pressure paid off again when Vecino nodded home the winner in added time.

Inter’s form

Inter remain third in Serie A after easing to a 3-0 victory against lowly Frosinone on Saturday, Keita Baldé scoring his first two goals for the club following his summer loan move from Monaco.

Before the international break, Spalletti’s side had seen their seven-match winning streak in Serie A ended unceremoniously with a 4-1 reverse at Atalanta.

The magnitude of that defeat was certainly unexpected given they had only conceded two goals in those seven victories that preceded the game in Bergamo.

Magic moment

A home game against Inter instantly brings back memories of our group stage meeting in 2010 when a Gareth Bale-inspired Spurs tore the then-European Champions apart on a glory, glory night at White Hart Lane.

Rafael van der Vaart swept us into a first-half lead from Luka Modric’s incisive pass but we had to wait until just past the hour mark to extend our advantage when Bale’s devastating pace and expert delivery presented Peter Crouch with a tap-in.

Samuel Eto’o gave Inter hope but there was time for one more majestic Bale surge as he motored away from the beleaguered Inter rearguard and crossed for Roman Pavlyuchenko to put the seal on a magnificent night under the lights.

Played for both

A popular figure across a string of top European clubs he represented, combative midfielder Edgar Davids joined us from Inter in summer 2005.

A product of the highly-acclaimed Ajax academy, Edgar broke into their first team in the UEFA Cup-winning 1991/92 season. Three Eredivisie titles and a Dutch Cup followed but his stand-out achievement was winning the Champions League final against Milan in 1995.

He spent six months at Milan at the start of the 1996/97 season before switching to Juventus, where he excelled for several years. Although he was beaten in two more Champions League finals, he won three Serie A titles and had a loan spell at Barcelona before joining Inter.

Edgar made 44 appearances in his two seasons at White Hart Lane, scoring once, before completing his career with stints at Ajax, Crystal Palace and Barnet. He was capped 74 times by the Netherlands and scored six goals for his country.

What they’re saying

Inter coach Spalletti has backed his players to focus on their own game and not get overawed by the atmosphere created by our fans inside Wembley Stadium.

“Everyone knows the prestige of playing at Wembley,” he said. “It is one of the monuments of football. We're accustomed to the San Siro and 65,000 fans, so we're better prepared than most to play here.

“The enthusiasm that Champions League qualification can give you is unique. We've been waiting years for this match and must be prepared to give everything for the result.”

Spalletti also refuted suggestions that the Serie A giants may need to tweak their game plan to get a positive result: “Inter have our identity by now and there's no need to change the way we play for this match,” he said.

“I hope it is a night worthy of Inter. I feel we have improved a great deal in terms of concentration for the full 90 minutes and there are individuals who can change the game.”