Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
The opening round of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage brings an intriguing clash between Monterrey and Italian giants Inter Milan. The match is scheduled for the early hours of Wednesday, June 18, with kickoff at 03:00 Central European Time. Here’s my pick for the winner of this showdown.
Match preview
Monterrey ranks among Mexico’s top clubs, but the last four years have seen them fall short of major achievements. Their last significant triumph came in 2021, and it’s thanks to winning the CONCACAF Champions League that they’ve earned a spot at this tournament.
The team brings some intercontinental experience but has rarely faced European powerhouses. Monterrey usually relies on a dynamic, attacking style with aggressive pressing, but their defense tends to falter under high-tempo opposition.
The arrival of Sergio Ramos has provided a bit more stability at the back, but the club still struggled during the regular Clausura campaign. They finished seventh and only managed to secure a playoff spot after playoff ties against Pachuca and Pumas.
This season ended in disappointment for Monterrey. In the quarter-finals, they fell to eventual champions Toluca, who played most of the second leg with just nine men.
Inter arrive at the tournament as one of the bookmakers’ favorites. However, after a heartbreaking defeat in the UEFA Champions League final and missing out on the Scudetto, there’s been a change at the helm.
Simone Inzaghi has moved to the Middle East and will lead Saudi giants Al Hilal at the Club World Cup. Replacing him at the Nerazzurri is Cristian Chivu, who had only a brief stint in charge of Parma.
It’s tough to predict how Inter will perform under their young, relatively inexperienced manager, but the quality of opponents in their group should be enough for the Italians to book a place in the knockout rounds.
Along with Monterrey, the Serie A runners-up will face River Plate and Japan’s Urawa Reds. On paper, Inter’s squad is head and shoulders above the rest, so Chivu shouldn’t have any trouble reaching the round of 16. Indeed, alongside Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern, PSG, and Chelsea, the Milanese are among the main favorites for the title.
Match facts
- Monterrey have scored in 14 consecutive matches.
- Inter have lost just one of their last seven games, a 0-5 defeat to PSG in the UEFA Champions League final.
- Monterrey average 1.8 goals per game, while Inter average 2 goals per game.
Probable lineups
- Monterrey: Andrada, Ramos, Rodriguez, Chavez, Arteaga, Ambriz, Medina, Deossa, Canales, Ocampos, Berterame.
- Inter Milan: Sommer, Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Thuram, Martinez.
H2H
The two teams have never faced each other before.
Prediction
Monterrey are clearly outmatched in terms of individual quality compared to their first opponents at the tournament. The Italians come in as obvious favorites and should confidently secure all three points. Expect Inter to take control of proceedings and look for their chances on the break. That said, Monterrey’s open style and attacking prowess could make for a high-scoring affair. On the other hand, the Milan side might opt for a more pragmatic approach, especially under a new manager. All things considered, I’m backing the straightforward bet on an away win.
