River Plate and Inter Milan are set to clash in Seattle on Wednesday night in a decisive final Group E match at the Club World Cup. Both teams are currently level on four points, having drawn with Monterrey and defeated Urawa Red Diamonds in their first two games. The outcome of the simultaneous match between Monterrey and the already eliminated Urawa could significantly influence qualification hopes, adding considerable pressure to the encounter at Lumen Field.
A victory for Monterrey would see them move to five points. In this scenario, River Plate and Inter would likely need a win to guarantee progression by reaching seven points. A draw between River and Inter would leave both teams on five points. This outcome would generally favor River Plate for qualification due to their superior goal difference against Urawa (a 3-1 win compared to Inter`s tight 2-1 victory secured by a late Valentin Carboni goal). Inter *could* potentially advance with a draw while Monterrey wins, but only if Monterrey`s victory is by a single goal margin, potentially bringing tiebreakers like goals scored or even disciplinary records into play.
The qualification scenarios are complex and tense, reflecting the high stakes of this fixture.
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, June 25
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
Odds: Inter +105; Draw +210; River Plate +260
Last Meeting
This match marks the first competitive encounter between River Plate and Inter Milan.
Predicted Lineups
River Plate: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Paulo Diaz, Marcos Acuna; Kevin Castano, Enzo Perez, Giuliano Galoppo; Franco Mastantuano, Facundo Colidio, Maximiliano Meza
Inter: Yann Sommer; Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Kristjan Asslani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram
Player to Watch
Franco Mastantuano, River Plate: This could be the young star`s final appearance for River Plate before an anticipated move to Real Madrid. The 17-year-old Argentine prospect has yet to fully shine in the tournament, struggling to impact the game against Monterrey after a promising start against Urawa. The clash with Inter presents a crucial opportunity for Mastantuano to demonstrate his potential on the global stage.
Storyline to Watch
Will Chivu alter Inter`s tactics? Since taking over from Simone Inzaghi, Cristian Chivu has largely maintained Inter`s familiar back-three formation, despite occasional tactical variations. Inter`s recent performances have lacked spark, suggesting the team might need a tactical refresh following disappointments in the Scudetto race and Champions League. The key question facing Chivu now is whether he will stick with the established setup for stability in a high-stakes match or introduce changes to ignite the team`s performance.
Prediction
Expect a match characterized by tension rather than free-flowing quality, with Inter ultimately securing the required result.
PICK: River Plate 1, Inter 2
