Monterrey vs Inter Milan Predictions, Odds and Best Bet

Joseph Beguiristain Sports Betting Expert

12 minute read

Inter Milan arrives at the Club World Cup with one clear objective: redemption. After falling short in their pursuit of a historic treble and parting ways with Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have appointed Cristian Chivu as their new coach. This change could be a defining moment for both the coach and the club.

On the other hand, Monterrey continues to evolve. With a new manager and a star-studded lineup, they aim to prove that Mexican football deserves a place on the global stage. As both teams seek stability under fresh leadership, this opening clash promises to be an exciting spectacle, with Monterrey listed as +600 underdogs for Match Day 1.

The Nerazzurri are understandably the favorites, but the latest odds for Monterrey versus Inter Milan indicate that the result may not be straightforward. Despite the difference in quality, the market suggests that Monterrey could find their rhythm and pose challenges. However, with Inter’s solid defense and both teams adapting to new systems, a low-scoring and one-sided match seems more likely.

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Analysis of the Match

The Champions League finalists are set to clash with one of CONCACAF's wealthiest clubs in a match that highlights their contrasting paths. Notably, both teams will introduce new managers as they embark on their Club World Cup campaigns.

Despite being the underdogs, Monterrey may have the advantage in terms of managerial experience. Cristian Chivu, appointed by Inter Milan after their 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Munich final, has only 13 senior games to his name. Meanwhile, Simone Inzaghi's move to Al-Hilal was perhaps expected, but Inter's lackluster performance in such a critical match raised concerns.

Up until April, Inter Milan had aspirations of another treble. Still, they now find themselves heading to the United States after a challenging season that saw them go trophyless across 59 games in all competitions. Only 13 days into his new role, Chivu, who previously managed the Inter Youth Team, will face immediate scrutiny. The question remains: will he stick with Inzaghi's successful 3-5-2 formation or try a 4-3-3 system that may not suit his current squad?

Regardless of which formation he chooses, if Inter can replicate their Champions League final form, Monterrey's chances of causing an upset at the Rose Bowl Stadium should not be dismissed.

Monterrey Analysis and Form

Monterrey experienced a setback when Toluca eliminated them in the Clausura quarter-finals on May 11. Following this defeat, manager Martín Demichelis left the club after overseeing 43 matches, which included a loss in the Apertura 2024 final against Club America.

The club has appointed Domenec Torrent as the new manager. Torrent is a Spanish coach with valuable experience in Brazil, having worked with Flamengo and served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

Monterrey has made significant signings, bringing in former La Liga stars such as Sergio Ramos, Lucas Ocampos, Jesús Corona, Óliver Torres, and Sergio Canales. This has placed considerable pressure on the team to secure titles.

Despite losing only five of their last 20 matches across all competitions and averaging 2.25 goals per game in the Champions League, the team finished fifth in the Clausura this season. Torrent's experience could be crucial in helping one of CONCACAF's wealthiest clubs achieve greater consistency and success.

Inter Milan Analysis and Form

From mid-April, Inter Milan managed to secure only four wins in 11 matches across all competitions, resulting in an overall goal difference of -4 during this period.

Their disappointing Serie A form included consecutive defeats to Bologna and Roma, as well as a last-minute draw against Lazio. This left them in second place in the league, trailing Napoli, despite outperforming their expected goals (xG) by five points.

Inter's most notable performances occurred during the Champions League knockout stage, where they defied expectations by defeating Bayern Munich and Barcelona in thrilling matches.

However, these victories masked deeper issues, particularly with Inter's defense. After keeping eight clean sheets in their first nine European games, the Nerazzurri conceded 15 goals from an xG of 13.8 in the following six matches.

As the season progressed, the team appeared mentally and physically fatigued, winning only three matches—against Cagliari, Como, and Torino—by more than one goal in the final month and a half.

Head to Head Analysis

The new Club World Cup format introduces several matchups that are happening for the first time, including this one. Monterrey, founded in 1945, has never faced an Italian team before.

However, the Mexican side has encountered European opponents in the past. Monterrey's most recent match was in the 2019 Club World Cup, where they lost 2-1 to Liverpool. They also suffered a defeat against Chelsea, falling 3-1 in the 2012 Club World Cup.

Monterrey has a challenging record in this competition. Al Ahly defeated them in their opening match in 2022 but went on to win the third-place playoff against Al Jazira, finishing with a score of 3-1.

On the other hand, Inter Milan has never played against a Mexican team and has not faced any club from the CONCACAF leagues in competitive matches either.

In their last appearance at the Club World Cup in 2010, Inter Milan won against South Korea's Seongnam and triumphed in the final against DR Congo's Tout Puissant Mazembe, with a score of 3-0.

Team News and Predicted Lineups

Monterrey's possible starting lineup is as follows:

• Andrada; Chavez, Rodriguez, Guzman, Arteaga; Medina, Ambriz; Deossa, Canales, Fimbres; Berterame.

Inter's potential starting lineup includes:

• Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Asllani, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro.

Monterrey has one absentee: Carlos Salcedo. The center-back is nearing a return from a cruciate ligament tear he suffered in January, but this tournament has come too soon for him.

Sergio Canales is the main threat for Monterrey. The midfielder arrives at the tournament in fine form, having scored five goals and provided four assists in his last eight appearances. The former Real Betis player will be looking to showcase his talents.

Inter suffered heartbreak in the closing weeks of a season that almost promised a treble. They lost the title to Napoli, were eliminated from the Coppa Italia, and suffered a humiliating defeat to PSG in the Champions League final. That loss marked the end of Simone Inzaghi's tenure as coach. He has since moved to Al Hilal, and Inter has replaced him with Cristian Chivu.

Chivu is familiar with the club from his playing days and has spent several years managing the youth teams before moving to Parma. The new manager is expected to use a formation similar to that of his predecessor, with the addition of new signings Luis Henrique and Sucic starting the match.

Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez are likely to lead Inter's attack in this opening game, but it will be interesting to see how the team shapes up in the coming weeks.

BEST BET: Both Teams to Score - No (-110)

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Joseph Beguiristain

Joseph Beguiristain is a South Florida native with 10-plus years of sports media experience. Before joining VegasInsider in July 2021, he wrote for the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Heat. More from Joseph Beguiristain