Lukaku protects the gate of the round of 16 in San Siro

In his last year in the Premier, Romelu lukaku, the danger that threatens Madrid today, scored 15 goals for Manchester United, a figure that seemed insufficient for the proud English club. His coach, Solskjaer, gave the green light for his transfer to Inter for 74 million, ten less than the British had paid for him two years earlier. At that time he was the third player in history who had moved the most money in transfers (behind Cristiano and Neymar) after going through five clubs. Antonio Conte, what he already wanted him for Chelsea, convinced Inter to pay a very high sum for a dwindling footballer and has loaded with reason: 34 goals, the highest figure of his career, last year. Nine in nine games in this one.

Lukaku was a child prodigy. He made his debut with Anderlecht two weeks after turning 16. And before he was 17 he was already international with Belgium. Then his career went and came in the Premier since he signed the Chelsea. There he did not succeed. Yes it did in the West Bromwich and in the Everton, clubs with less pretensions, but returned to remain half in the United. “In England they said I was lazy, that I didn't run, that I didn't do this or that. And here they say I'm the hardest worker in the locker room. Of course I have improved, but I am the same Rom. They also accused me of being slow. Didn't you see my matches against Shakhtar or Sevilla? “Lukaku acknowledges that Conte and Inter have turned his career around:” At United there was the group of the French, the English, the Latin … At Inter there is a united team, in which everyone speaks Italian. And a frank coach who in front of everyone, watching the videos, tells you what you have not done well “.

Three games, two points

Lukaku has missed two games this year, in Valdebebas and against Parma, and neither of them was won by Inter. On Sunday, against Torino, he signed a double and becomes the great threat for Madrid in a offensive team that even fifth in Serie A is the one more scores. In Champions it has been something else. Only two points in three games that, as Conte pointed out after the first clash against Madrid, do not portray well the performances of the 'neroazzurri': Inter shot three times more than Borussia and Shakhtar to sign two draws and the same as Madrid to end up losing. Zidane's team must respond to his proposal for a high-rhythm game, with many greyhounds on the outside and a lot of energy on the inside. (follow the game live on AS.com).

Will have to face, again, to the discomfort of a rival with three centrals, two wingers / wingers, three very dynamic midfielders and Lukaku and Lautaro, world figures, at the top. Conte, to which Kolarov and Brozovic are missing, did not hide in the previous press conference that the duel is a final.

Also for Madrid, but less. Arithmetically, even losing, he would depend on himself to pass, but hardly as first. And his last experience after being second in the group was falling in the round of 16 against City.

Mariano's canyon

The latest COVID test a Casemiro it was a relief. Without him, Madrid was thrashed in Valencia and suffered a lot in Vila-real. Of the last 12 games in which it was absent, the team only won five. So Zidane will have his center of the field of the golden age, with Modric, Kroos and the Brazilian, despite having trained only twice with the group in the last 17 days. Asensio and Odegaard will play a position depending on the march that the French wants to put in and Mariano and Hazard will form a couple at the top.

The Benzema's low is remarkable, although neither has its level been that of previous campaigns. He has six goals playing almost everything, while in the previous two, at this point, he added 10 and 12, respectively. Mariano is at the other suit: he plays little and scores a lot. In Madrid it goes out to a goal every 98 '. In his only year at Lyon he made 21. It is not to Zidane's taste but now he has no other. And while, the fans expect that wake up Hazard, who has not scored a goal in Europe since his double against Arsenal in the final of the Europa League on May 19. With Madrid he is blank and most of his indicators are red. He shoots once per game and dribbles 1.8 on average. With Belgium, in the year of the 2018 World Cup, was at 2.8 shots per shock and 6.7 dribbles. Without going so far, at Chelsea his records almost doubled those he presents at Madrid. It came for games like this and it has yet to appear.

Zidane looks at another crucial duel without Ramos. Of the last eight games without him in the Champions League, Madrid lost seven. The data shudders.