Internazionale in England: A Review of Past Performances

Much has been spoken about how Manchester United are odds on favorite to outclass Inter at Old Trafford. However, Inter have been a bogey team of sorts for many English teams in the past, particularly when playing in England.

Inter have met English opposition three times in the past seven Champions League seasons and have been more successful on English soil than any other Italian team during this period.

Newcastle v. Internazionale

The first time Inter met English opposition in this decade was in the 2002-03 season, when they visited St. James' Park to meet Newcastle in the second group stage of Europe's premier club competition.

Inter utterly outplayed Newcastle, putting four past the Magpies in a fairly one-sided affair. Domenicio Morfeo scored in the first minute with Matias Almeyda adding another before the break. Crespo and Recoba completed the rout with Solano scoring a consolation for the home side.

In the return leg, the Nerazzurri drew 2-2, with Shearer getting a brace for the Toon, while Vieri and Cordoba scored for Inter.

Inter went on to lose the semifinals that season to city rivals AC Milan.

Arsenal v. Internazionale

The very next season, Inter travelled to Highbury to meet Arsenal in the group stages of the competition.

During this time, when Arsenal were dubbed "the Invincibles" and went on to win the Premiership undefeated, it was Inter again who shot down the Gunners in front of their home supporters. The scoreline stood at 0-3 in Inter's favor with  Cruz, Van der Meyde and Martins getting onto the score-sheet.

Of course, Arsenal beat Inter comprehensively in the return leg at the San Siro with a 1-5 thrashing and knocked them out of the tournament.

Liverpool v. Internazionale

Last season, Inter again met English opposition in the knock-out phase, when they drew Liverpool. Inter however, were not as lucky as their last two visits. Two late goals saw Inter crash to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, with Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard doing the damage.

To Inter's credit however, they played down to ten men for the better part of the game as Materazzi was sent off in the 30th minute following a second bookable offense, and the first goal was a rather fortuitous one, taking a wicked deflection off Maicon on the way in.

Inter succumbed again in the knock out stage with Liverpool securing a 1-0 victory at the San Siro.

In retrospect, Inter have usually played better in England than at the San Siro against English opposition and they were the only ones to defeat Arsenal during their dream 2003-04 season.

With a scoreless draw at the San Siro, their best result at home against English teams in the last decade, things look good for the team from Northern Italy since England has proven a happy hunting ground for them in the past.

Let us just hope the trend continues and Inter have a ball at Old Trafford. They remain Italy's best chance to have a representative in the final eight of this year's competition with Juventus already beaten and Roma struggling with severe injury crisis when they host the Gunners at the Olympico tomorrow.