Tuesday night threw up a few surprise results in the Champions League, but it was business as usual for Inter Milan, with a Leeds United target handed a rare start by Christian Chivu.
Liverpool were beaten as Arne Slot struggles to get the best out of his Premier League champions, while Jose Mourinho came close to stopping Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham snatched a late point.
Robin Koch was poor in a heavy 5-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid, with Rasmus Kristensen missing with an injury. Plenty of goals, plenty of drama, as is the way with Champions League football and more tonight.
But for Inter, Chivu’s men cruised to a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday night with Lautaro Martinez nabbing a brace. One player that was handed a start was 101-time Poland international Piotr Zielinski.
Piotr Zielinski comments after first Inter start this season
Meanwhile, at Leeds, Daniel Farke is expected to want January additions. Having failed to sign an attacker before the end of the summer window, the need remains and Farke will want a signing in the new year.
Marco Silva wants Harry Wilson to sign a new deal and Facundo Buonanotte is now with Chelsea for the season. Since the summer window closed, Leeds have been linked with Zielinski and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Zielinski, though, looks keen to remain at Inter. Speaking after his first start of the season on Tuesday night, he suggested to Inter’s website that he remains focused on getting more game time this season.
“We’re happy to have put in a good performance with the right attitude. I can contribute with more goals and assists: they’ll definitely come this year, I need to be more aggressive in defence, but I did well today.
“It was a bit because I’ve not started for a while, really happy for myself and the team, it was important for me to do well and contribute,” Zielinski told Inter’s website after a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague.
What can Leeds realistically do in the January window
Whether Leeds have any money to use remains to be seen. Managing director Robbie Evans has already said that Leeds have maxed out PSR. But a sale would free up some cash, or perhaps a loan may suit.
Reports say, however, that Leeds are planning to do the exact opposite of what Evans said about January after the summer deadline. It is as if Leeds are planning to make signings, meaning others will be sold.
Zielinski’s game time has been small, and while he is focused on playing more for Inter, he may become available on loan come January. That could be a situation that suits all, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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