Champions League: Inter vs Bayern Is a Brilliant Start! 

Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich

Two of Europe’s biggest clubs come face to face in the Champions League on Wednesday when Inter Milan welcome FC Bayern to the San Siro Stadium.

It’s a fantastic curtain-raiser to the Group C campaign, the most exciting foursome in the competition which also contains Xavi’s Barcelona. And the heavyweight make-up of the group means that neither team can really afford to lose this opener. It will be tense from the outset and the atmosphere in the packed Milan stadium will be electric.     

Neither team arrives with a win to give them a pre-match boost; Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan come into the game on the back of a 3-2 defeat in the Derby di Milano, while Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern drew 1-1 away to Union Berlin. But they are both habitual winners and on Wednesday the focus will be intense. 

Talking Points

Who can emerge from the Group of Death? 

When the draw was made there were gasps around the auditorium as the Group C lineup was announced. Only Viktoria Pilzen officials could be excused for raising an enigmatic smile, while the representatives of FC Bayern, Barcelona and Inter Milan had a sharp intake of breath.

So who is going to make it through?  

The pre-tournament Champions League 2022 betting odds have placed FC Bayern as fourth favourites to win the entire competition at SBOTOP odds of 7.50. Meanwhile, Barcelona are in eighth position at odds of 21.00 while Inter, one of Italy’s Scudetto challengers, are at a big price of 51.00, or 21.00 to reach the final.

The Bavarians are favourites to win the group at a price of 1.42, with the Blaugrana at 3.25 and Inter at 9.00, but a win for I Nerazzurri at the San Siro will change these odds considerably.  

Bayern brutal on the road

In their three away games prior to Saturday’s draw in Berlin, Nagelsmann’s side won all three, scoring a whopping 18 goals and conceding one. Die Bayern opened their Bundesliga campaign with a 6-1 victory away to Eintracht Frankfurt, before thumping Bochum 7-0 and then winning their Cup match away to Viktoria Cologne 5-0. 

Despite the loss of Robert Lewandowski, die Bayern have been scoring for fun and overall they had a good transfer window, bringing in Matthijs de Ligt in defence, Marcel Sabitzer in midfield and Sadio Mane up front. And the Senegalese striker is sure to make plenty of Champions League 2022 highlights this season; he has already scored three league goals, opening his account in Bayern’s opening-day destruction of Frankfurt.

Midfield ace Joshua Kimmich continues to set the pace of Bayern’s play, with his assured performances from midfield and he weighed in with the Bavarians’ leveller in their draw with FC Union Berlin.        

Inter solid at home

I Nerazzurri have been impressive at the San Siro, winning both their home league games comfortably, 3-0 over Spezia and 3-1 against Cremonese. The return of Romelu Lukaku set the pulses racing in Milan, but it is his strike partner Lautaro Martinez who has continued his form of 2021/22, kicking off with three goals from Inter’s opening five games.

Veteran striker Edin Dzeko and midfield ace Marcelo Brozovic scored in the Derby di Milano on Saturday, while Martinez was on the mark in the midweek win over Cremonese. With Joaquin Correa starting the season in strong form, this is a dangerous attack and one which will fire Inter up the Serie A table from their current seventh position.       

History

This is a clash of European royalty, two sides at the top of their domestic games and with a rich tradition of success.

Bayern are one of the most successful clubs in history, winning 32 Bundesliga titles while picking up six Champions Leagues – only Real Madrid and AC Milan have won more. Meanwhile I Nerazzurri are the seventh-most successful club in European history, winning three Champions Leagues and 19 Scudetti.  

There is nothing to choose between the two teams in terms of head-to-heads with four wins each and a draw in their nine encounters on the European stage.

Recent form favours the Bavarians who have won four and drawn two of their last six games and are unbeaten in seven matches on the road, while I Nerazzurri have won three and lost three of their last six. 

Betting Tip

Inter are at odds of 3.68 to win this Group C opener with Bayern at 1.89, and I think the two teams will cancel each other out.  A draw wouldn’t be a disaster for either side, and that outcome would allow them to set their sights on Barcelona. 

 

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