MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 20: A general view during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Spezia Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 20, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)

Inter Legend Shrugs Off Italian Teams, Names Favorites for the Champions League

The Champions League kicked off amid great excitement and Serie A clubs in particular are looking to bounce back on the grand stage after a muted decade.

Inter were the last Italian club to win the continental tournament in 2010, when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Nerazzurri. Since then, only Juventus have managed to go all the way to the finals – in 2015, when they succumbed to Barcelona.

Inter legend Lothar Matthaus does not believe clubs from the peninsula or even from Spain can compete with other heavyweights in the competition.

Speaking to Sky Deutschland (via FCInter1908), the 1990 World Cup winner gave his thoughts on who he thinks are favourites to lift the coveted trophy at the end of the current season.

He said: “My favorites for the Champions League are PSG, Bayern and the English four, who have strengthened a lot and have started very well in the Premier League. I don’t see any Italian or Spanish team that currently has the potential to win.”

The former Nerazzurri talisman thinks the arrival of star signings at Paris Saint-Germain makes them clear favourites for the trophy, along with Bayern Munich.

“On paper, Paris Saint-Germain are one of the big favorites for the title. Messi, Donnarumma, Ramos, Wijnaldum and Hakimi arrived and they also managed to keep Mbappé. If Bayern were to be lucky and avoid injuries, they could also go all the way,” he added.

Inter face Real Madrid at San Siro on their opening matchday in Group D.

Read the full match preview here.