Inter Milan vs Real Madrid
They are two of European football’s aristocracy for sure, but when Inter Milan and Real Madrid meet at the San Siro on Wednesday there will be some serious nerves jangling on both sides.
Who would have thought that halfway through the Champions League group campaigns Real and Inter would be in third and fourth place in Group B? Certainly not Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk, but the two pre-tournament underdogs currently occupy the qualifying places.
Much can change over the next three games and we’ll be all over the action right here at SBOTOP, as the Champions League 2020 results continue to roll in, but this clash is undeniably huge.
Talking Points
Inter’s fight in evidence against Torino
After pushing Juventus so hard for last season’s Scudetto it’s been a rather underwhelming start to the 2020/21 campaign for I Nerazzurri. In Serie A Antonio Conte’s Inter is currently in the shadow of AC Milan, as I Rossoneri leads the pack on 20 points and five ahead of their city rivals, currently in fifth place. But there was encouragement for the Inter boss in the way his team reacted to going 2-0 down to Torino at the weekend.
By the time Simone Zaza and Cristian Ansaldi had breached the Inter defence it looked like Conte’s men were heading for a fifth consecutive winless game, in all competitions. But his attack responded in devastating fashion, with Romelu Lukaku bagging a brace and Alexis Sanchez and Lautaro Martinez making it a comfortable victory in the end.
And with only two points to show for their first three games in the Champions League Inter now need to show the same attacking ruthlessness against Real Madrid. And the good news for Inter fans is that Lukaku is on fire. He has nine goals in all competitions this term including a vital double to rescue his side a point against Monchengladbach earlier in the competition.
COVID casualties Aleksandar Kolarov, Marcelo Brozovic and Daniele Padelli continue to self-isolate while Stefano Sensi is injured. Conte is expected to include Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij in a defence he hopes will stand up to Real’s dangerous attack. While at the other end of the pitch Martinez and Lukaku will hope to exploit gaps in the Madrid team’s rearguard.
Real resources are stretched
Los Blancos too have been hit by a series of coronavirus positive tests including forward Luka Jovic and Casemiro; but the biggest problem head coach Zinedine Zidane has is the absence of his defensive rock and inspirational captain Sergio Ramos, who pulled a hamstring during Spain’s demolition of Germany last week. This bad news for Los Blancos can only be a boost for their opponents who will look to profit from his absence.
ZZ put together a makeshift team at the weekend, which led for much of the game against Villarreal before settling for a 1-1 draw when Gerard Moreno slotted home a late penalty. It was really two points lost for the champions and they sit in fourth place, six behind early leaders Real Sociedad. But with Karim Benzema fit to return, alongside Isco and Eden Hazard, the Real head coach has fewer worries up front. He can also call upon Marco Asensio while Rodrygo might well start on the bench again.
History
Two points ahead of Inter, Los Blancos could reach the top of Group B if they win, and Shakhtar and Monchengladbach play out a draw, but they will need to record a first ever victory away to Inter. The visitors do have the edge in the head to heads though, winning three to I Nerazzurri’s one of the last four meetings.
Los Blancos won 3-2 in a pulsating clash at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month. After they raced into a two goal lead, thanks to Karim Benzema and Ramos, Martinez and Ivan Perisic dragged Inter back into the game only to see a point slip away when substitute Rodrygo won it with a late goal for the Spaniards.
Betting Tip
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Inter Milan vs Real Madrid | Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.04 |
| November 26, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
The Champions League 2020 betting odds don’t favour either Real or Inter as a potential tournament winner at the moment, mainly because both are at risk of failing to qualify for the Round of 16. But if either, and particularly Los Blancos, is to pick up all three points on Wednesday they will start to come into the picture.
Inter are marginal favourites at odds of 2.25; with Real Madrid at 2.96 and the draw is available at 3.16. I think we’re in for a nail-biter with either a 1-1 draw or a victory by the odd goal in three.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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