The nerazzurri need to win the game against Los Blancos to keep their chances alive in the continental competition.

The big UEFA Champions League game between Inter and Real Madrid may get more complicated than initially expected for Conte's men, as one of the team's brightest stars might be out for the crucial tie set to take place in the Spanish capital.

A report by La Gazzetta dello Sport states that Antonio Conte and his crew will have to battle for their first win of the tournament without Romelu Lukaku on the pitch. The Belgian has proven key to Conte's tactics, and his absence on the pitch of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium could be a serious blow to Inter's chances of success in the tournament.

The Belgian striker has scored seven goals in seven apps for the nerazzurri this season, which add to the 34-goal haul he accomplished in his debut season with the Serie A titans. In fact, Lukaku has scored both of Inter's goals in the tournament in their 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 1.

Inter is third in Group B of the competition with only two points, and a win against the Spanish champions would do wonders for their chances to make it to the next round, while it would also hand a massive blow to Zidane's men in their quest for a spot in the KO stage of the competition.