Barcelona vs Inter Milan
Two of the biggest names in European football collide once again in the Champions League as Barcelona host Inter Milan at the Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana — who are once again one of the favourites to win the competition according to the Champions League 2019 odds — have not had the best start to the season, in large part due to the absence of Lionel Messi.
But the Argentine talisman is back in training and could potentially feature against Inter following a slight groin problem.
As for Inter, they are riding high atop Serie A thanks to the leadership of new manager Antonio Conte. However, they disappointed in their Champions League opener against Slavia Prague and will be desperate to avoid a repeat at the Camp Nou, where they have struggled over the years.
Talking Points
Barca still not at their best
The good news for Barcelona is that they will head into this big match against Inter having won back-to-back games for the first time this season. After edging out Villarreal 2-1 at home, they defeated Getafe 2-0 away on the weekend.
But the bad news is that their performances have remained unconvincing. They were outshot 11-8 by Villarreal at home and just barely outshot Getafe, 10-9. They were also fortunate to come away with a draw against Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener.
Antoine Griezmann scored in the win over Villarreal, but he has not had much of an impact while playing out wide for most of the season.
The big Champions League 2019 news ahead of the match is that Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele are both back in training and could potentially make their return against Inter.
However, Messi hasn’t look anywhere near his best in the three halves he’s played since returning from a calf problem. It seems unlikely that after returning from another injury issue, he will suddenly get back to his usual brilliant form.
That means the likes of Griezmann and Luis Suarez will need to be the ones to break down an Inter defence that has been outstanding during the early part of the season.
Inter in impeccable form
Inter Milan just can’t stop winning in Serie A at the moment. Their 3-1 win at Sampdoria over the weekend was their sixth in six matches as they remain ahead of Juventus in the standings.
Alexis Sanchez — on loan from Manchester United — finally made his first Inter start, and much like Inter’s other new signings, he made an immediate impact.
A deflection off his back led to Inter’s opener, while he also scored a goal of his own a couple of minutes later. Unfortunately, though, his dream debut was spoiled as he was sent off for diving.
It seems unlikely that Sanchez will start against his old side, though, with Conte likely to go back to Romelu Lukaku partnering Lautaro Martinez up front. But after his impressive debut, Sanchez has shown he will be a nice weapon to have as a substitute.
Amid the arrivals of Lukaku, Sanchez, and Nicolo Barella, it’s been Stefano Sensi who has arguably been Inter’s most impressive player thus far this season. The 24-year-old midfielder had another goal and an assist against Sampdoria and now has three goals and two assists on the season.
The Inter midfield has been a big reason for their early success this season, and they will be crucial in containing Barcelona’s talented, albeit underachieving, attack.
History
Barcelona and Inter have met eight times in total, with two meetings coming the last year’s group stage. Barca won at home 2-0 while the two drew 1-1 at the San Siro.
The Catalans continued their flawless record at the Camp Nou against Inter. They have won all four of their home matches against the Italians, with eight goals scored and none conceded. Inter have won just once, with three draws.
Barca also have a brilliant home record in general in this competition. They are currently on a record 32-game unbeaten run in Champions League home games (29 wins, three draws), and have won 10 of their last 11 with 33 goals scored.
Betting Tip
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Barcelona vs Inter Milan | Inter Milan Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 2.20 |
| October 03, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
Despite Messi’s uncertain status and Inter’s impressive start, SBOBET odds somewhat surprisingly have Barca as 1.57 favourites with the Italians priced at 5.60. Perhaps Barca’s remarkable home record and their great history against Inter had something to do with those odds.
Either way, there’s value to be had with Inter. While their performance against Slavia Prague was concerning, it’s hard to see Conte making the same mistakes again.
That’s why I’m going with the Italians on the Asian Handicap market and taking the +0.75 handicap. You’d win with a draw or an Inter win, and even if they lose by a single goal, you’d still only lose just half of your potential payout. That’s why it’s a bet worth making.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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