Inter Milan vs Barcelona Match Analysis and Prediction

3 years ago 569

European heavyweights Inter Milan and Barcelona go head to head at San Siro on Tuesday, with the teams level on points heading into the third matchday of the Champions League Group C.

Both sides have got the better of Viktoria Plzen but lost to Bayern Munich, but the hosts have experienced their worst Serie A start for 11 years while the Spanish outfit are unbeaten in seven La Liga matches so far this season.

Inter Milan’s lead was overturned at the weekend, not for the first time this season, as they let slip a one-goal advantage to lose 2-1 at home to Roma.

A first defeat to Simone Inzagi’s side since 2017 leaves them stranded adrift of Serie A’s top six, and suffering four losses in eight games equals the Giallorossi’s slowest start to a season throughout their top-flight history.

One of five vidtories this season came last time out in the Champions League, as they defeated Czech champions Viktoria Plzen 2-0, with Edin Dzeko and Denzel Dumfries scoring either side of their hosts going down to 10 men.

They had previously lost by the same scoreline at home to Bayern, but they have tended to fare much better at San Siro in recent times, having won each of their last seven home league matches before their setback against Roma.

Having been unable to make it through the group stage of last season’s Champions League, finishing third behind Bayern and Benfica, a rejuvenated Barcelona will not want to suffer the same fate again.

Thanks to some efficient accounting manoeuvers, Barcelona managed to add a number of players to their squad over the summer, including star striker Robert Lewandowski.

Six points on offer against Inter over the coming days and the contrast in confidence between both camps could prove a major factor for the Catalan giants.

Inter Milan vs Barcelona head to head

These two teams have previously met on 10 occasions in Champions League, where Inter have claimed one victory while Barcelona have won six, and they have drawn in three. Barcelona have scored 14 goals and conceded six. In their last five meetings, Barcelona have won four while they have drawn once.

Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan 28/04/10

Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan 24/10/18

Inter Milan 1-1 Barcelona 06/11/18

Barcelona 2-1 Inter Milan 02/10/19

Inter Milan 1-2 Barcelona 10/12/19

Inter Milan latest home form

Inter Milan have recently kept a mixed run of form at home, as they have won just three of their eight most recent matches. They were beaten 2-1 by Roma in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded five.

Inter Milan 3-0 Spezia 20/08/22

Inter Milan 3-1 Cremonese 30/08/22

Inter Milan 0-2 Bayern Munich 07/09/22

Inter Milan 1-0 Torino 10/09/22

Inter Milan 1-2 Roma 01/10/22

Inter Milan latest away form

Inter Milan have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They lost 3-1 to Udinese in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded 10.

Lecce 1-2 Inter Milan 13/08/22

Lazio 3-1 Inter Milan 26/08/22

AC Milan 3-2 Inter Milan 03/09/22

Viktoria Plzen 0-2 Inter Milan 13/09/22

Udinese 3-1 Inter Milan 18/09/22

Barcelona latest home form

Barcelona have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Elche 3-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded just four.

Barcelona 0-0 Rayo Vallecano 13/08/22

Barcelona 3-3 Manchester City 24/08/22

Barcelona 4-0 Real Valledolid 28/08/22

Barcelona 5-1 Viktoria Plzen 07/09/22

Barcelona 3-0 Elche 17/09/22

Barcelona latest away form

Barcelona have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Mallorca 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded three.

Real Sociedad 1-4 Barcelona 21/08/22

Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona 03/09/22

Cadiz 0-4 Barcelona 10/09/22

Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona 13/09/22

Mallorca 0-1 Barcelona 01/10/22

Inter Milan news

Romelu Lukaku remains on the road to recovery from a thigh injury, so Joaquin Correa and Edin Dzeko fight it out to partner Lautaro Martinez up front.

Hakan Calhanoglu should feature in midfield, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan will compete for selection with Kristjan Asllani and Roberto Gagliardini to join Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella.

Barcelona news

Barcelona travel to Italy without Jules Kounde, Memphis Depay and Frenkie De Jong, after each picked up injuries in the Nations League last month.

Ronald Araujo may miss the rest of 2022 after undergoing thigh surgery, while Hector Bellerin is sidelined by a calf problem sustained in training last week.

Prediction and Odds

Inter Milan are defensively vulnerable and often unable to hold on to a lead, while Barcelona’s much-improved squad are well placed to take three points home from San Siro.

The greater depth available to Xavi means that whichever XI starts here should have enough experience to defeat the struggling hosts.

Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.20