Two sides looking to qualify from Group D clash at Stadio San Siro on Tuesday, Oct 24th – kick-off 17.45.

Inter Milan entertain Salzburg, Matchday 3, 2023/24 UEFA Champions League.

Both have a win under their belts, but narrowly trail Sociedad in the overall standings. 

Team news

The visitors have reported issues injury-wise that include Fernando, Sekou Koita, Bryan Okoh, Lukas Wallner, and Justin Omoregie. They are rated doubtful.

Mads Bidstrup and Kamil Piatkowski are also struggling.

As for Inter, we understand Juan Cuadrado and Marko Arnautovic are absent for a little while yet, but Alessandro Bastoni could return to the starting XI.

Match odds

Ahead of the game we bet Inter 1/4, the Draw 4/1, and Salzburg 17/2

Inter to win to nil @ Evens

Last term’s beaten finalists Inter sit atop Serie A and are in very decent order indeed, thank you. They lie second on goal difference in Group D, having defeated Benfica and drawn with table-topping Real Sociedad.

Salzburg beat presently-pointless Benfica, but were put in their place by the Spanish Group D leaders. Lots on the line then in Milan, and I’m expecting the home side to readily repel their Austrian challengers.

Outright, Inter are a terrible, if justified, price. 1/4 butters no parsnips, or something like that. No divine right that they’ll win, and at the price, the risk far outweighs the potential gain in my cautious book.

So – let’s approach it from a ‘what do I think will happen in the match,’ point of view. What’s the likely score, perhaps? Time to nail the colours to the mast – and for me, Inter take this without conceding a goal. It’s what Italian sides have been doing since footballing time began – tight at the back, do enough going forward to win.

Nearly worked in that final against Manchester City, and you’ll see far worse 25/1 shots if considering the prospects of La Beneamata going one better this term.

Correct score Inter 2-0 @ 11/2

If an Inter win to nil is my favoured option, to what extent will that implied superiority play out? Another national Italian footballing characteristic can often be to prevail by less-than flamboyant margins – so I’m thinking 2-0. The team goals betting as framed by the traders for Inter hinges between 2 and 3 (over 2.5 is 6/5 which might just be a bridge too far). So we’re arguably in the right ball-park, IF considering the scholarly labours of the number-crunchers.

Inter have taken the two previous matches between the sides. Salzburg have failed to win in any of their last 3 outings. Inter are undefeated in 11 of their last 12 competitive home games. All adds up to potentially a tough night for the Sound of Music boys, as the Italian giants bid to say so long, farewell to their close qualification rivals.