Inter vs Urawa Red Diamonds prediction, H2H and probable lineups – June 21, 2025
The second-round clash of the FIFA Club World Cup between Milan's Inter and Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds will take place on Saturday at Lumen Field in Seattle. I'm backing a bet on goals in this encounter with an attractive odds offer.
Match preview
Inter Milan entered the tournament as one of the group favorites, but their opener against Monterrey was no walk in the park for Cristian Chivu's men. The team had to come from behind and only managed to avoid defeat in the dying moments, despite dominating all the key statistical categories. Such a setback will only add fuel to the fire for Inter's attacking leaders — Lautaro and Mkhitaryan — who will surely be eager to capitalize on their chances from the very first half.
It's worth noting that Inter consistently displays a high level of attacking efficiency on the international stage: in most recent matches, the club has scored at least twice, though defensive lapses at the back remain an issue. Their streak without a clean sheet in both the Champions League and Club World Cup continues, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities even against lesser opposition. Against Urawa, the Nerazzurri will look to press aggressively and attack down the flanks, but that approach could leave them exposed to counterattacks.
The Japanese side traditionally relies on pace and pressing, but in their match against River Plate, that simply wasn’t enough to secure a positive result. After scoring their sole goal from the penalty spot, Urawa once again exposed their defensive frailties — something that's become a worrying trend, as conceding at least three times per match has become the norm for them in this tournament.
That said, the team is far from toothless in attack: in terms of shots on target, Urawa actually outperformed their illustrious Argentine opponents, and their xG was even superior. This proves that when given the opportunity, Urawa can create and convert chances, especially if Inter gets too caught up going forward and leaves space behind their defensive line. In this game, Urawa will once again look to deliver the ball quickly into the penalty area and make the most of set pieces.
Probable lineups
- Inter: Yann Sommer – Benjamin Pavard, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni – Carlos Augusto, Kristjan Asllani, Nicolò Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Matteo Darmian – Sebastiano Esposito, Lautaro Martínez
- Urawa Red Diamonds: Shusaku Nishikawa – Hirokazu Ishihara, Danilo, Marius Høibråten, Yoichi Naganuma – Takuro Kaneko, Samuel Gustafson, Rema Watanabe, Kaito Yasui, Mateus Savio – Yusuke Matsuo
Match facts and head-to-head
- Inter have failed to win in regulation time in each of their last five UEFA Champions League and Club World Cup matches
- Urawa Red Diamonds have lost their last three Club World Cup matches, conceding at least three goals in each
- The teams have never met before
Prediction
This match promises to be open and entertaining, as both sides are much more comfortable going forward than sitting back. The Nerazzurri are certain to attack relentlessly and should find the net, but their defensive frailties could allow Urawa to reply with a goal of their own. Our prediction: "Both teams to score" at odds of 2.20.
