Preview: Inter Milan vs. Villarreal - prediction, team news, lineups

The Italian giants will enter the contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Lyon last Saturday, while Villarreal were in action on Wednesday night, recording a 3-1 win over Levante.

Match preview

Inter started their preparations for the 2022-23 campaign with a 4-1 victory over Lugano on July 12, while they have played on a further three occasions since then, drawing with Monaco and Lyon, in addition to losing to Lens.

The San Siro giants will now round off their pre-season with a friendly against Villarreal on Saturday, with their new Serie A campaign beginning away to Lecce on August 13.

Simone Inzaghi's side finished second in Serie A last season, two points behind the champions AC Milan, while they won the Coppa Italia and reached the last-16 stage of the Champions League in 2021-22.

The Black and Blues have had a busy transfer window, bringing in Joaquin Correa, Kristjan Asllani, Raoul Bellanova, Andre Onana and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while Romelu Lukaku has returned to the club on loan from Chelsea, and the 29-year-old will be looking to pick up where he left off at San Siro.

Inter have not allowed any of their key players to leave this summer, which should stand them in good stead for the new season, when they will be looking to finish at the top of Serie A, in addition to making a bigger impression in the Champions League.

Villarreal, meanwhile, have been in strong form during a busy pre-season, winning five of their seven friendlies, including a 3-1 success over Levante on Wednesday night.

The Yellow Submarine were also in action twice last weekend, recording a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Saturday before drawing 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday, while they have also beaten Reims, Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven during a summer that would have pleased head coach Unai Emery.

Villarreal finished seventh in La Liga last season, which has to go down as a disappointment, but they did reach the semi-finals of the Champions League during an impressive European campaign.

Emery's team have been relatively quiet this summer in terms of incomings, with Jose Luis Morales and Pepe Reina arriving on free transfers, while Kiko Femenia has made the switch from Watford.

Villarreal's volume of matches this summer should stand them in good stead for the new season, and they will be looking to make the perfect start to their campaign on August 13 away to Real Valladolid.

Inter Milan friendlies form:

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

Villarreal friendlies form:

Team News

Inter's team is likely to be similar to the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Lyon last time out, with Lukaku, who was on the scoresheet, set to partner Lautaro Martinez in the final third.

Milan Skriniar might have to accept a spot on the bench once again amid the speculation surrounding his future, but Denzel Dumfries - another player to be linked with an exit - is in line to start.

Summer arrival Mkhitaryan could come into a midfield area, while Robin Gosens and Roberto Gagliardini are likely to be considered for starts in the team's final friendly of the summer.

As for Villarreal, Fer Nino and Morales were on the scoresheet against Levante on Wednesday, with a strong XI taking to the field against the Spanish club.

Head coach Emery will make changes from the side that featured last time out, with Raul Albiol, Etienne Capoue, Pau Torres and Geronimo Rulli among those likely to come into then XI.

Gerard Moreno could lead the line with support from Yeremi Pino, but Samuel Chukwueze, Francis Coquelin, Pervis Estupinan, Dani Parejo and Juan Foyth should keep their starting roles from Wednesday.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Onana; D'Ambrosio, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Gagliardini, Mkhitaryan, Gosens; Lukaku, L Martinez

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, P Torres, Estupinan; Coquelin, Capoue, Parejo, Chukwueze; Pino, G Moreno

We say: Inter Milan 1-1 Villarreal

Both managers will view this match as extremely valuable ahead of the new season, and we are expecting a very competitive contest on Saturday. Villarreal have been playing some excellent football during pre-season, but Inter are also looking strong ahead of the new campaign, so we have settled on a draw here.

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