Afrigather Verdict: Whole residence targets over 2.5
Greatest odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Betfair
Following a hard-fought draw of their Champions League opener, Inter Milan will goal to safe their first group-stage victory on Tuesday after they host Pink Star Belgrade at San Siro.
Whereas Inter have established themselves as a dominant power at residence, Pink Star Belgrade are nonetheless looking for their first away win within the fashionable Champions League period, having final gained on the highway throughout the European Cup days.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan entered the 2023-24 Champions League marketing campaign as runners-up from the earlier season, the place they narrowly misplaced to Manchester Metropolis within the ultimate. On the opening matchday of this season, Inter confronted Metropolis as soon as once more and executed a stable defensive recreation plan, changing into solely the second crew to stop Pep Guardiola’s aspect from scoring at residence within the Champions League.
Inter’s defensive energy is obvious, having stored 13 clear sheets of their final 22 matches at this degree, essentially the most by any crew because the 2022-23 season. Moreover, they’ve solely misplaced two of their final 16 video games within the competitors. Their unbeaten run at residence within the Champions League has now stretched to 9 video games, their greatest streak since profitable the 2010 ultimate in opposition to Bayern Munich.
Earlier than their latest 3-2 win over Udinese, Inter had gone three video games with no victory, together with a painful defeat within the Derby della Madonnina in opposition to AC Milan. Davide Frattesi shortly eased considerations by scoring within the first minute, and Lautaro Martinez, who had but to attain this season, added two essential targets to safe the victory and rebuild Inter’s momentum forward of the Pink Star Belgrade conflict.
Group Information
Inter’s predominant concern forward of their first Champions League residence recreation facilities on the health of key midfielder Nicolo Barella, who missed the weekend fixture as a result of a thigh harm. If Barella is unavailable, both Piotr Zielinski or Davide Frattesi is predicted to step in as his substitute.
The one confirmed absentee for Inter is Canadian wing-back Tajon Buchanan. With a demanding league recreation in opposition to Torino on the horizon, coach Simone Inzaghi might decide to rotate his squad. Regardless, Inter’s lineup will characteristic a wealth of expertise, as evidenced by the beginning XI of their earlier Champions League match in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, which had a mean age of almost 30 years, making it the second-oldest crew of the opening matchday.
Pink Star Belgrade
Inter Milan have confronted Pink Star Belgrade twice earlier than, again within the 1980-81 European Cup quarter-finals, the place Inter superior with a 2-1 combination win. Pink Star have struggled traditionally in opposition to Serie A groups, having not gained of their final eight matches in opposition to Italian golf equipment—a streak that stretches again to December 2005.
Final season, Pink Star completed on the backside of their Champions League group, shedding 5 of six video games. Nevertheless, they rebounded domestically, securing their seventh consecutive Serbian league title and qualifying for this 12 months’s Champions League after defeating Bodo/Glimt within the playoffs.
Of their first group-stage match this season, Pink Star fell 2-1 to Benfica after conceding two early targets, regardless of Felicio Milson scoring late on. Nevertheless, they bounced again impressively with a 4-0 victory within the Everlasting Derby in opposition to Partizan Belgrade and a 2-1 win over Zeleznicar Pancevo, conserving them unbeaten of their home league.
Whereas Pink Star have been dominant at residence, with eight wins in 9 league matches and a objective distinction of 27 scored to only 5 conceded, their type within the Champions League has been a special story. They’ve misplaced all 9 of their away video games within the competitors to this point, a file that solely two different groups have matched.
Group Information
Pink Star Belgrade might be with out Ognjen Mimovic (foot harm) and long-term absentee Vladimir Lucic (knee) for his or her journey to face Inter Milan at San Siro.
In central midfield, Rade Krunic—who beforehand gained the Scudetto with AC Milan in 2022—companions with Timi Elsnik. Elsnik was excellent in Pink Star’s opening match in opposition to Benfica, main his crew in a number of classes: he created essentially the most probabilities (4), accomplished essentially the most passes (58), executed essentially the most line-breaking passes (16), and recovered possession greater than some other teammate (eight occasions).
Up entrance, Cherif Ndiaye – who lately netted a hat-trick within the Everlasting Derby – will battle with Bruno Duarte for a beginning spot. Ndiaye is Pink Star’s high scorer this season, having scored seven targets to this point.
Conclusion
Inter Milan enter the match as clear favorites, boasting 9 wins from their final 13 Champions League residence video games. After securing a confidence-boosting win on the weekend, Inzaghi’s aspect ought to be close to their greatest and poised to capitalize on Pink Star Belgrade’s poor file away from residence in European competitions.
Verdict: Whole residence targets over 2.5
Greatest odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Betfair
