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Simone Inzaghi's Inter will face Real Sociedad on Wednesday for the opening game of the 2023-24 Champions League season, while RB Salzburg and Benfica will play at the same time. Inter were runner-up last season after winning the Derby della Madonnina semifinals but then losing 1-0 in the final to Manchester City. On the other hand, this is the third time ever that Real Sociedad made it to the group stage of the most important European competition. Here's what you need to know: 

How to watch and odds

  • Date: Wednesday, Sept. 20 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Location: Estadio Municipal de Anoeta -- San Sebastian, Spain
  • Watch: Paramount+
  • Odds: Real Sociedad +210; Draw: +230; Inter +130

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Team news

Real Sociedad: The home team are currently 11th in La Liga with six points from five games but rotated some of the key players in the first games of the season. Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is among the options for the attacking line of the Spanish side but should not start. 

Potential Real Sociedad XI: Remiro; Traoré, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney; Merino, Zubimendi, Mendez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea.

Inter: The Nerazzurri come from a surprising 5-1 win against AC Milan on Saturday but won't count on Juan Cuadrado and Hakan Calhanoglu, who picked up a small injury and will miss the European debut. Kristjan Asllani is expected to replace the Turkish midfielder as playmaker. 

Potential Inter XI: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram.

Prediction

Despite missing a key player like Calhanoglu, Inter are still the favorites and should win this one. Pick: Inter 3, Real Sociedad 1.