Inter Milan vs River Plate Prediction: River’s young star can get headline goal

The top two in Group E of the Club World Cup meet at Lumen Field as Inter Milan face River Plate (02:00 BST, DAZN) hoping to secure top spot. The duo are level with four points apiece, but Monterrey will leapfrog the loser of this match, as long as they beat Urawa Reds. 

There’s a lot on the line for this one, and below you can find my Inter Milan vs River Plate predictions featuring team news and betting tips. 

Team News

Cristian Chivu has received a boost ahead of this final group game with the news that Denzel Dumfries is fit to return and he could come straight into the XI for this one. After two average displays, Inter could do with an injection of some quality and the Dutchman could provide that. 

Davide Frattesi and Marcus Thuram are also in contention after missing the late win over Urawa Reds, but Benjamin Pavard is out having aggravated an ankle issue. He is out, along with Yann Bisseck, Hakan Calhanoglu and Piotr Zielinski, while Mehdi Taremi remains in Iran due to the ongoing conflict. 

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could come into the starting XI along with Francesco Pio Esposito, who did well off the bench in his first appearance for the club.

Football Odds

River will be without three players through suspension for this crunch fixture. Kevin Castano was sent off against Monterrey, while Enzo Perez and Giuliano Galoppo both got their second bookings of the competition against the Mexicans.

It leaves them slightly short of midfield options, with Matias Kranevitter, Nacho Fernandez and Rodrigo Aliendro now battling it out for a starting berth. Maxi Meza replaced the injured Sebastian Driussi on the left wing against Monterrey and is set to start again, while all eyes are on Real Madrid bound 17-year-old Franco Mastantuono on the right flank.

Inter Milan vs River Plate Odds

Inter are priced at 13/10 to win this match giving them an implied win probability of 44%, while River Plate can be backed at 5/2. A draw is available at 2/1, over 2.5 goals is 1/1 and BTTS is 4/5 having come in during both of Inter’s matches at the Club World Cup so far. 

Lautaro Martinez has been priced up as the 5/1 favourite to score first, with Miguel Borja 6/1 to open the scoring for the Argentines. Betfred are also offering plenty of Bet Builder Boosts and Price Boosts for this fixture, which you can find by clicking the link above. 

River Plate to win and BTTS @ 5/1

I’ve been massively impressed with the South American sides at the Club World Cup, so I think the value lies in backing River Plate to win this one, over an Inter Milan side that haven’t quite got going yet. The suspensions worry me slightly, but I still think they are the better team right now. 

River created an xG of 1.68 against Monterrey and were incredibly unfortunate not to win that game, while they cruised past Urawa Reds with a 3-1 success in their opening match. Meanwhile, Inter drew 1-1 with Monterrey in a decent attacking performance, but they needed an injury-time winner to edge past Urawa Reds. 

Their injury absentees are harming them and although Dumfries’ return will offer a boost, I don’t think Chivu has got the best out of them for now. Meanwhile, both teams have scored in Inter’s two matches at this tournament while BTTS has also come in during four of the last six River matches. We should get goals. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Franco Mastantuono to score anytime @ 11/4

The 17-year-old is one of the most talented young players in the world and his time at River is coming to an end. He’s joining Real Madrid on August 14 for around £40m, which just shows how highly he is rated in world football.

"Mastantuono? He's born in 2007 and has so many games under his belt already,” Inter boss Chivu said ahead of this match. “He reminds me a bit of [Angel] Di Maria with his touch and left foot, he'll surely be the future of football. Real Madrid has high expectations, but he'll do well."

He’s got seven goals and four assists in 21 appearances this term, but is yet to get off the mark in this competition. I think there’s going to be a special moment for him against a European giant at some point however, and I think there’s good value on backing him to score anytime in a match that I’m expecting to contain plenty of goals. 

Offers

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