Southampton were handed their first home loss of the season Sunday, falling 2-0 to Chelsea. Thursday’s match vs. Inter Milan provides a chance to regroup.
Southampton head into a midweek matchup looking to reassert their dominance over their home ground, and seeking what could be three critical Europa League group points as the battle in Group K heats up.
The Saints sit in second in group on 4 points, two off leaders Sparta Praha and ahead of Hapoel Be’er Sheva on goal difference. Last time out in Europe, the club fell 1-0 at the San Siro on a strike from Inter’s Antonio Candreva. Inter, who hadn’t won previously in the Europa League, picked up three valuable points and turned Group K into a wide-open race.
With the group now wide open, Southampton no longer have any room for error. A loss at home could send the Saints to last in the group, depending upon results of the match between Sparta and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Against a team that stands as one of Europe’s titans, even on its off years, it would seem a tall ask.
But much has changed in the two weeks since the clubs’ last meeting under the lights in Milan. Saints’ record-signing Soufiane Boufal has come up to form, hitting a wonder of a goal to lift his club over Sunderland in the EFL Cup. Nathan Redmond, too, has finally found his form, sitting on two goals in his last four appearances. And of course, there is the small matter of Inter Milan’s managerial situation: the embattled Frank de Boer was sacked earlier this afternoon, after less than three months in charge.
And while football has no memory, history too would seem to favor the Saints’ cause. Southampton have not lost a European match on home soil in 35 years, last falling 4-2 to Sporting Lisbon in 1981. The Saints have also never lost consecutive matches in European competition, and did not lose consecutive home matches through all competitions last season.
Next: Looking Back: Our Group K Saints Predictions
By contrast, Inter Milan have won only one of their last five appearances on English soil, and are winless in their last five European away matches. Candreva’s game-winner of last fixture was the club’s only shot on target that game; they have had just seven in the competition, the lowest in Group K.
While neither club has discussed lineups or injury reports as-yet, at least Shane Long and Matt Targett are expected to remain out for Southampton. Inter have no known injuries in their typical starters, but are without four summer signings who were excluded from European competition due to Financial Fair Play violations.
Preston’s Pick: Southampton 2-0 Inter Milan