Inter vs River Plate prediction, H2H and probable lineups - June 26, 2025
On Thursday, June 26, at Lumen Field in Seattle (USA), one of the most intriguing clashes of the third round of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage will take place as Inter Milan faces off against Argentina’s River Plate. I’m backing a bet on goals in this encounter, with strong odds for success.
Match preview
Under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, Inter continues to justify their status as one of the tournament favorites, but every match has been a hard-fought battle for the Nerazzurri. In the second round, the team miraculously salvaged a win against Urawa Red Diamonds, coming from 0-1 down to snatch victory fifteen minutes before the final whistle. Inter remains consistent in the Club World Cup, now unbeaten in four consecutive games, yet their defense is far from perfect — they’ve conceded in almost every match.
However, Inter’s attack is firing on all cylinders: Lautaro Martínez leads the front line, with the midfield expertly maintaining a high tempo. In their last ten Champions League and Club World Cup outings, the Nerazzurri have failed to score just once, often finding the net at least twice per match. Despite injury setbacks forcing Chivu to improvise, Inter’s attacking power is capable of turning games around even in the toughest circumstances.
River Plate, under Marcelo Gallardo, traditionally play a vibrant, attacking brand of football, and their Club World Cup stats back that up. In the second round, the Argentines only managed a draw against Monterrey (0-0), despite dominating in shots and xG — they should have claimed all three points. Still, the team remains unbeaten in four Club World Cup matches, showcasing a solid balance between offense and defense.
That said, River’s back line occasionally falters, and opponents don’t miss the opportunity to capitalize. In their last six international fixtures, River have conceded eight goals, but scored ten themselves. To secure a playoff spot, the South Americans need a high-scoring performance — at least two goals and a minimum of a draw — which will force them to open up even more.
Probable lineups
- Inter: Yann Sommer; Carlos Augusto, Stefan de Vrij, Matteo Darmian; Federico Dimarco, Kristjan Asllani, Nicolò Barella, Federico Dimarco, Luis Henrique; Sebastiano Esposito, Lautaro Martínez
- River Plate: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Paulo Díaz, Marcos Acuña; Giuliano Galoppo, Enzo Pérez, Ignacio Fernández; Franco Mastantuono, Maximiliano Meza, Facundo Colidio.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Inter have scored at least twice in eight of their last ten Champions League and Club World Cup matches.
- River Plate are unbeaten in regulation time in their last five Club World Cup games.
- The teams have never met before in an official match.
Prediction
Both sides approach this game with a clear attacking mindset and defenses that are far from watertight. A draw is enough for the Italians, but Inter are not a side that sits back — they always look to attack. River Plate will need to go forward even more aggressively to avoid elimination. It’s logical to expect both teams to score, so the optimal bet here is “Both teams to score” at odds of 1.76.
