Inter Milan vs River Plate Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
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Internazionale have been unconvincing thus far and could well still be knocked out in the group stages as they take on River Plate at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN / US – DAZN
Inter Milan team news: Attacking issues
Ahead of their clash with River, Cristian Chivu is dealing with a couple of key issues in attack for the Nerazzurri. Iran international Mehdi Taremi couldn’t travel to the United States due to the conflict, whilst Marcus Thuram is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Darmian, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Luis Henrique, Barella, Asllani, Zalewski, Dimarco; Esposito, Lautaro Martinez
Unavailable: Taremi (Personal reasons), Thuram (Injured)
Questionable:
River Plate team news: Several suspensions
Ahead of their crucial clash with Inter, River Plate have several suspension issues in midfield for this one with Kevin Castano sent off against Monterrey, whilst both Enzo Perez and Giuliano Galoppo have both picked up yellow card-related bans.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Armani; Montiel, Martinez Quarta, Paulo Diaz, Acuna; Kranevitter, Fernandez, Lanzini; Mastantuono, Colidio, Meza
Unavailable: Kevin Castano (Suspended), Galoppo (Suspended), Perez (Suspended), Driussi (Injured)
Questionable:
Key stats
- This is the first FIFA competition match between these teams.
- Inter have lost just one of their last nine matches in all competitions (W5 D3 L1).
- Inter are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches against non-European teams (W6 D2 L0).
- River Plate have not lost any of their last 20 matches in all competitions (W10 D10 L0), excluding penalty shoot-outs.
- Lautaro Martínez has scored 11 goals in 16 competitive appearances for Inter against non-Italian opposition in 2024-25.
- Inter’s three goals at the FIFA Club World Cup have been scored by Argentine players; Lautaro Martínez (two) and Valentín Carboni (one).
- Inter have two senior Argentina internationals in their squad – captain Lautaro Martínez and midfielder Valentín Carboni. Martínez was a member of Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning squad alongside River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani and defenders Marcos Acuña, Germán Pezzella and the man who scored the winning penalty in the final shoot-out against France, Gonzalo Montiel.
- Inter’s Tomás Palacios has represented Argentina at U-20 level.
- River’s Germán Pezzella (2017-21) and Lucas Martínez Quarta (2020-25) both made over 100 appearances for Italian club Fiorentina. Pezzella featured five times against Inter during his time in Italy (W0 D3 L2) and Martínez Quarta played in seven games against them (W1 D1 L5).
- River’s Miguel Borja faced Inter in the Italian Serie A during the 2013/14 season when he was at Livorno, although he only played three minutes as a substitute against them in a 2-0 away defeat in November 2013.
- River’s Facundo Colidio began his senior career at Inter but did not make a first-team appearance for the club before leaving for River Plate in 2023.
Inter Milan vs River Plate prediction
Having suffered a second UEFA Champions League final loss in three seasons, Simone Inzaghi departed Inter earlier this month and the lack of cohesion has been apparent for Inter thus far. They shared a 1-1 draw with Monterrey in their opener before going behind against the Urawa Red Diamonds before pulling off a surprise 2-1 victory.
They now face a River Plate side that, under the management of Marcelo Gallardo, have been entertaining to watch with a comfortable 3-1 defeat of the Urawa Red Diamonds in their opener before then sharing a goalless draw with Monterrey in something of an end to end stalemate the other day.
River have some key absentees for this one so that may affect them against an unconvincing Inter side, so a draw may well be a good value bet for this one.
Inter Milan vs River Plate tip: Draw
