Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu has opted to start Luis Henrique at wingback in their crucial FIFA Club World Cup group stage match against Urawa Red Diamonds, set to begin at 21:00 CET. This matchup is particularly important for the Nerazzurri, as they seek their first victory following a 1-1 draw with Monterrey in their previous game.
In a significant lineup change, Chivu has made five alterations to the starting XI. While Yann Sommer continues as the goalkeeper, Stefan de Vrij steps in for Francesco Acerbi in a three-man defensive setup alongside Matteo Darmian and Carlos Augusto. The evening marks a noteworthy debut for Brazilian wingback Luis Henrique, who previously came off the bench in the match against Monterrey. His first start comes after his transfer from Marseille earlier this month, demonstrating Chivu’s trust in his abilities.
The midfield retains Nicolo Barella and Kristjan Asllani in their roles, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been moved to the bench. Federico Dimarco will fill the left-wingback position. Chivu has also implemented a tactical shift to a 3-4-2-1 formation, positioning two attacking midfielders—Sebastiano Esposito and Nicola Zalewski—just behind striker Lautaro Martinez.
In terms of injuries, Inter is without key players including Yann Bisseck, Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Piotr Zielinski, and Marcus Thuram. Additionally, Mehdi Taremi remains unable to travel to the U.S. due to the closure of Iranian airspace amid ongoing regional conflicts.
As the teams prepare for this important match, Inter Milan aims to secure a victory to enhance their standings in the group stage. The atmosphere promises to be electric as fans eagerly await to see how Henrique performs on his first start and how the team responds to the challenges posed by Urawa Red Diamonds.