Champions League: Inter Milan vs. Barcelona Betting Preview
Blockbuster Group C UCL Matchup
Pressure Builds on Inter Coach Inzaghi as Barcelona Match Looms
We’re just one day away from one of the most intriguing Champions League group stage matches. Powerhouses Inter Milan and Barcelona face off in the Group of Death in Milan on Tuesday. Given Inter’s poor form, coach Simone Inzaghi is on the hot seat and Barcelona will present a tough challenge. We’ll review the odds and preview the match in this Inter Milan vs. Barcelona betting preview.
Champions League – Inter Milan vs. Barcelona Game Info:
- Location: Stadio San Siro, Milan, Italy
- Date & Time:
- Streaming: Live Stream Sports
Head-to-Head
Last Five Meetings:
- Dec 2019: Inter 1-2 Barcelona
- Oct 2019: Barcelona 2-1 Inter
- Nov 2018: Inter 1-1 Barcelona
- Oct 2018: Barcelona 2-0 Inter
- Apr 2010: Barcelona 1-0 Inter
Inter Milan and Barcelona were also in the same Champions League group in 2019. FCB managed two 2-1 wins over Inter as they finished first in the Group F Champions League standings. Barcelona are unbeaten in the last five matches vs. Inter, dating back to 2010. The Nerazzurri scored in each of the last three meetings but have managed just six goals in the last ten.
Inter Slumping at Pivotal Time
- Recent Form (All Competitions): L,L,W,W,L
- Injuries and Suspensions: M Marcelo Brozovic (Out), F Romelu Lukaku (Out)
Edin Dzeko originally put Inter ahead on Saturday vs. AS Roma; however, it turns out he was marginally offside and the goal was ruled out by VAR. Then, Federico DiMarco actually gave Inter the lead but it was downhill from there. Paulo Dybala equalized for the visitors and Chris Smalling added another on a second half set piece. Inter had their chances and coach Simone Inzaghi thought the Nerazzurri deserved to win. Still, it was their first loss to Roma since 2017.
With a second straight loss in Serie A and three in their last four, Inzaghi is under pressure. Our Inter Milan vs. Barcelona betting preview highlights that Inter have four Serie A losses already. That’s as many, in eight matches, as they had all of last season. As a result, the club is said to be monitoring Inzaghi closely. With a very tough match looming, it’ll be interesting to see how the team responds.
Key midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is still out after getting injured during the international break. Striker Romelu Lukaku, who returned to Inter on loan this Summer, is also out. Even so, offense hasn’t been close to Inter’s biggest problem. Their defense is leaking goals against tough opposition. Inter have conceded three goals in three matches this season and lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League match. Inter defeated Czech side Viktoria Plzen 2-0 in their most recent UCL match and are level on points with Barcelona.
Barça Eked Out Victory on Saturday
- Recent Form: W,W,L,W,W
- Injuries and Suspensions: D Ronald Araujo (Out), D Jules Kounde (Out), D Hector Bellerin (Out), M Frenkie de Jong (Out), F Memphis Depay (Out)
Xavi and Barcelona had bad news coming out of the international break. Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay all picked up injuries. With some key players out, Barcelona managed to get a 1-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday. After Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw vs. Osasuna, Barça ended the weekend on top of the La Liga table.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are in a neck and neck battle for the La Liga title. However, the Barcelona odds to win the Champions League are currently listed at +1200. Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick in his first Barcelona Champions League match as they defeated Viktoria Plzen 5-1. In Lewandowski’s return to Munich, Barcelona were shut out by Bayern Munich 2-0. Regardless, Barcelona have conceded just three goals all season, in all competitions.
Even with the injuries, Barcelona have a much better team than they did last season. Without De Jong in midfield, Xavi can still deploy Pedri, Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie. Gerard Pique and Andreas Christensen started at center back with Araujo out on Saturday but Eric Garcia is another option. At right back, with Jules Kounde and Hector Bellerin out, Alejandro Balde and Sergi Roberto can fill in.
Odds & Preview
To conclude our Inter Milan vs. Barcelona betting preview, let’s take a look at the major betting lines. Struggling Inter Milan are +310 home underdogs and a loss would make Inzaghi’s leash even shorter. Especially since the Nerazzurri have to head to the Camp Nou for a rematch vs. Barcelona next week. Xavi’s Barcelona are priced as -120 favorites and show -135 odds to score two or more goals. With the way Inter have defended lately, that comes as no surprise. A draw, which has occurred in just one of the last seven meetings, is priced at +275.
Xavi’s Barcelona are priced as -120 favorites and show -135 odds to score two or more goals.
The over/under goals total for the match stands at three goals. Only one of the last ten meetings has finished with more than three goals and the under is listed at -135 odds. Inter have scored just two goals in their last three home matches, in all competitions. Barcelona have kept six shutouts in nine games this season and Inter under 1½ sits at -240 odds.
Barcelona have a strong arsenal of attacking weapons, with Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele. They’re more than capable of giving Inter problems. Also, Inter could struggle to win the midfield battle with Marcelo Brozovic out. Still, Inter have a lot to prove coming into Tuesday and nothing can be ruled out.
