Match for the 3rd round of the Club World Cup group stage, at the Lumen Field, in Seattle.
What We Know
- This is the first-ever match between these two teams.
- Both Inter FCWC games ended with both teams scoring, as they have kept a clean sheet just once in their last five matches in all competitions.
- River Plate have won just once in their last four games. Three of those games ended with both teams scoring.
- River secured a clean sheet for the first time in six games.
Betting Tip Inter Milan - River Plate
These two are the best teams in the group, both on paper and in practice. They will be looking to advance into the knockout stage, and, even though a draw could work for both, it is unlikely either team will settle for that. They are capable of scoring, and we are likely to see plenty of goals scored. Our pick is BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals.
- Betting tip: BTTS & Over 2.5 goals
- Odds: 2.10 (at the time of writing)
- Stake: 6
Inter Milan
Despite spending most of the game behind, all the way to the 78th minute, Inter were able to mount a comeback and earn a 2-1 win over the Japanese team Urawa Reds. They were worse than expected for most of the game, conceding early after Urawa put together an excellent attacking combination.
The Milanese took a while to find their groove in this one - they didn’t have a shot on target until the 70th minute. They got an equaliser through captain Lautaro Martinez, who scored a brilliant finish from inside the box in the 78th minute. It was his second in the tournament and 23rd on the season. The comeback was completed by another Argentinian, midfielder Carboni. He scored in his first game since October, following a knee injury.
Inter need a win in the last round of the group stage to punch their ticket to the next stage, as Monterrey are in hot pursuit. It won’t be easy, and their defence, formerly their strong suit, has been ‘leaky’ in recent games. The game vs the Reds was the third straight with a goal conceded, and the fourth in their last five.
Still, they have been consistently able to score. Apart, of course, from the disastrous Champions League final, they have scored in 8 straight games, getting at least two goals in six of them.
River Plate
River Plate were not able to find a winner in a game where they were the superior side, so they at least looked to avoid defeat. The goalless draw vs Monterrey brought them up to four points. They threatened the Mexicans with set pieces and long-range efforts, to no avail. Yet another game for wonderkid Mastantuono, even if he was unable to score for a second straight game.
River had possession of the ball for most of the game, but not many big chances. They lost starting midfielder Kevin Castano near the end of the game to a red card after he got a second yellow, and he will not feature in the upcoming game.
The game vs Monterrey was the first one without a goal for River after 11 straight with at least one. Up until that game, they had also been running a streak of four games with BTTS, and 8 in their last 20.
A draw could work under specific circumstances, and they are expected to field their starting eleven vs Inter.
