Monterrey vs Inter Milan predictions: Italians can bounce back from Munich misery
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- Inter have led at the break and gone on to win in three of their last six matches
- Monterrey have kept only three clean sheets in their last 17 games
- Recommended bet: Inter-Inter double result
Inter Milan were utterly outclassed in their 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final but they have the chance for a new beginning at the Club World Cup, where they take on Monterrey in their opening game during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
It has been far from smooth sailing for Inter, who followed their Champions League disappointment by removing head coach Simone Inzaghi and installing Cristian Chivu as his replacement.
Chivu will be hoping to make a positive start and his team are warm favourites against Monterrey, who have been far from convincing over recent months.
Monterrey crashed out at the quarter-final stage in the Mexican Clausura final phase and were eliminated at the round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, losing on away goals to Vancouver Whitecaps.
Team news
Carlos Salcido (ankle) is a doubt for Monterrey, while Sergio Ramos (leg) is in the squad despite not featuring in a league game since April. The former Real Madrid star has, however, returned to training and should captain the side.
Inter striker Mehdi Taremi is stuck in Tehran after visiting his homeland to collect the Iranian Footballer of the Year award. Hakan Calhanoglu (knee) and Piotr Zielinski (calf) are both sidelined, while Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic have both left the club on free transfers.
Recent signings Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique are in the squad.
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The stats
Inter have scored at least two goals in four of their last five matches.
Inter’s last two wins were by a 2-0 scoreline.
Monterrey have conceded two goals in three of their last four fixtures.
Both teams have scored in 11 of Monterrey’s last 14 games.
Prediction
Inter were brushed aside in the Champions League final but they played some great football to get there and are likely to make their class count against Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
It would be a tall order for Chivu to lead Inter to glory in his first couple of months in the hotseat, but the Romanian has inherited a strong squad and will have a first objective of getting his team beyond the group phase.
Inter are dealing with a few injuries and cannot call on Mehdi Taremi, who is stranded in Tehran, but they still have some quality players, including potent attackers Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, who are likely to start together in the opening game.
They will be looking to make a fast start and can do some early damage against Monterrey, who are coming into the tournament in indifferent form.
The Mexican club have spent a lot of money in recent years but they have fallen well short of domestic supremacy and are unlikely to make much of an impact over the next few weeks.
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