Inter Milan v Tottenham prediction

Inter Milan v Tottenham Betting Preview
The Premier League side has one foot in the quarter finals after a stunning first leg display at White Hart Lane. Gareth Bale netted early in the match to help guide Spurs to a comfortable 3-0 win. They are now the favourites with many bookmakers to go on and win the tournament outright. They have great flair and creativity pressing forward and all they need to do is preserve what they have back at the San Siro and not let their hard work go undone. An away goal on the break for them would kill this tie off quickly.

Inter Milan v Tottenham Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Inter 13/10, Spurs 2/1, Draw 12/5

Inter Milan v Tottenham Recommended Bet:
What do the Italians have left in the tank? It was a surprisingly poor performance from them at White Hart Lane, as they had been good on the road in Europe recently. They were stunned a bit and really missed the boat in not being able to record a precious away goal. They were bossed around by Spurs, couldn’t handle the speed of Tottenham and now they have to chase a massive deficit. Inter are one of the joint top scoring teams in the Europa League this season, having scored sixteen since the start of the group stage. They have a lot to do, can they get it done? The last time they hosted Spurs they ran up a four-nil lead at half time. They were then stunned by a second half Gareth Bale hat trick, but still held on for a 4-3 win. They need a massive performance now and their home form against English sides is pretty solid.

They hold a W8 D3 L2 home record against English sides, but not only that, they need a big margin. Three unanswered goals only takes things to extra time. Inter really have to watch for an away goal as well, but spurs will be without Gareth Bale who is suspended. Overall against English sides, Inter hold a W12 D4 L11 record and the damage may already all been done in this tie. Interestingly, since that 4-3 win over Spurs, no visiting English side has scored more than one goal in Italy since that game. In nine previous visits by English sides to Italy since that game, there have only been five goals in total from English sides. However, Spurs have scored three goals exactly in each of the three occasions that they have played Inter Milan before. Tottenham have also kept five consecutive clean sheets against Italian sides in Europe. They have failed to score in three of those five games though.

Spurs have drawn their last four European away matches in a row. Three of those four away draws have all been by a 1-1 scoreline, so that may be a good trend to follow. Tottenham’s record against Italian clubs stands at W4 D4 L2 and out in Italy is is W1 D2 L2. Against Italian sides alone, Spurs have not conceded in their last four, taking three 0-0 draws and then last week’s 3-0 win. So pretty good form. Spurs, along with Lazio are the only two unbeaten sides left in this season’s Europa League and the Premier League side have not lost in five European away games now. So the signs look pretty positive for them as they head to the San Siro on Thursday. Consolidation is all that they need to do, but it is worth looking at penalty shoot out records. Inter have a 2-2 record in UEFA penalty shoot outs, while Spurs have a 1-1 record.

Form
Inter LWDWLL, Spurs WDWWWL

Online bookmaker Promotion
Tottenham have kept clean sheets in their last four matches against Italian sides so there is a good trend there. Because of that, it could be worth taking advantage of online bookmaker Bet365’s 0-0 Bore Draw Insurance again for this one. If the game ends in a 0-0 draw, then the bookie will refund all losing Half Time/Full Time, Correct Score and Scorecast bets placed on the match. Great coverage in a tight looking tie, and new customers registering an account can get up to a £200 bet as a welcome bonus, as Bet365 will match the value of your first deposit.

 

Inter Milan V Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday, 20th October – 19:45 (GMT)
Venue: White Hart Lane, England
TV Coverage: ITV1

There is virtually nothing between these two sides heading into Tuesday’s meeting, as just one goal separates Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur at the top of Group A, where the reigning European champions will play host to English débutantes Tottenham Hotspur who have so far not been overawed by their intimidating and awe-inspiring surroundings.

The Italian powerhouses didn’t exactly open the defence of their crown in impressive fashion, with a Samuel Eto equaliser in Holland away to FC Twente (2-) sparing their blushes as they collected just a point from their first trip of the campaign. However, the Serie A champs were back to their scintillating best on Match Day 2 when thumping German side Werder Bremen at the San Siro courtesy of a Samuel Eto hat-trick.

England’s newest Champions League representative have so far fared OK, more than holding their own in their first two matches against Werder Bremen (2-2) and FC Twente (4-1), with the latter a comprehensive and confidence boosting win which ensured Spurs kept up pace with leaders Inter Milan and should hopefully inspire another gutsy, high-octane performance from Harry Redknapp’s charges.

 

Inter Milan

Group A Position: 1st
Group A Form: DW

It has so far been a steady if not unspectacular defence to their European crown from the Nerazzurri, who opened their accounts with a disappointing 2-2 draw in Holland with FC Twente before finally sending out a message of intent with a 4-0 rout of German side Werder Bremen at the San Siro that the current holders of the UEFA Champions League trophy are by no means going to relinquish their crown without a fight, and will look to further demonstrate their continental prowess by attempting to despatch of high-flying Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Under new management in the form of former Liverpool tactician Rafael Benitez, following the departure of Jose Mourinho, Inter haven’t exactly been blowing the media back home away with their early season performances, with the overall formation of the team, as well as the tactics, pretty much the same as when Mourinho was at the helm. Nevertheless, Inter know full well they have a tactical marvel in the hot seat in Rafa, and the Spaniard will know exactly what Wednesday’s opponents Tottenham Hotspur entail, but more importantly where their weak points lye.

At the San Siro this season, Inter Milan have been close to flawless. Their only blip on home soil to date came when Juventus frustrated them in a 0-0 stalemate. With the exception of the ‘Old Lady’ digging in her heels, Inter have been overwhelming their opponents in Milan this season and will be buoyed by their emphatic 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen last time out. However, performances on the pitch recently haven’t been so great. Samuel Eto, scorer of a hat-trick against Werder Bremen, spared Inter’s blushes at the weekend as Inter recorded their first domestic win following a barren two match run with a 1-0 victory away to Cagliari. Goals have been a problem, with the Milan based club drawing blanks on three occasions already this season, but fortunately for the Nerazzurri faithful, the team hasn’t found goals hard to come by at home nor in Europe – 10 in 4 home matches, 6 in 2 Champions League outings.

Rafael Benitez has virtually a fully fit squad to choose from and is likely to start with an all too familiar 4-3-2-1 formation, the same system he used when at the Liverpool helm. As always, Benitez never goes anywhere without his trusted two holding midfielders, but it’s interesting to see Eto given more licence to thrill up front in a lone striker role in the absence of Diego Milito who is out injured. The dangerous Wesley Sneijder will play just in behind the inform Cameroon striker, just alongside one of the club’s hottest prospects in Argentine Philippe Coutinho, with the pair hoping to keep Eto on his toes throughout with chances.

 

Tottenham Hotspur

Group A Position: 2nd
Group A Form: DW

A match which epitomises what the Champions League is all about sees one of the competitions newest kids on the block do battle with the reigning kings of Europe, Inter Milan. So far, Tottenham have matched the Italian side stride for stride, with Harry Redknapp’s men level on points with Inter at the top of the standings following a hard-fought and fully deserved 2-2 draw in Germany with Werder Bremen before really announcing themselves on the continental scene when putting newly crowned Dutch champions FC Twente firmly to the sword at White Hart Lane. However, the biggest test of their Champions League credentials awaits them on Wednesday inside an atmospheric San Siro, so will they once again pass with flying colours or will their intimidating surroundings prove too much too soon for Redknapp’s brave but laregely inexperienced charges?

Following a succession of impressive results in this competition already, Tottenham now find they have some pretty high standards to live up to. Away to Werder Bremen, Spurs sprinted out of the blocks when taking a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes of the game, but their inexperience at this level coupled with their lack of killer instinct ultimately pegged them back as they drew 2-2 in Germany. And it appeared their lack of nerve would once again prove their nemesis on Match Day 2, when seemingly spurning several glorious opportunities to really seize the initiative in their encounter with FC Twente at home before eventually cruising to their maiden victory in the UEFA Champions League in comprehensive 4-1 victory.

The Spurs dressing room will be gorged in confidence following the side’s fourth league win of the season at the weekend, also their second on the road which bodes well ahead of a very difficult away encounter in Milan. However, the defence has been a problem area for Spurs this season, to the point where only one clean sheet has been kept in all competitions so far this term. A lack of first team defenders has been the root of the problem, an issue which doesn’t appear to be easing up any time soon. Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson are both long-term absentee’s, Ledley King’s football is severely restricted through his constant knee problems and is a definite not to be involved on Tuesday after limping off during Saturday;s 2-1 win at Fulham, while Younes Kaboul is struggling with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for Tuesday as well.

So what do Tottenham need to do in order to deter the limelight from their defensive problems and ensure they at least remain competitive in Italy on Tuesday in front of the ITV cameras. Simple really, get as much work as possible out of their more destructive forward assets. Rafael Van Der Vaart, suspended following his red card against FC Twente last time out, has been the key cog in the Spurs creative system this season, with everything going through the classy and highly talented Dutchman, but it’s the pacey wide outlets which could provide Spurs with most of their joy. Gareth Bale is enjoying the best spell of form in his career at present, having scored in the 4-1 win over FC Twente and recently in defeat with his country Wales, and the combination of Bale’s pace and trickery down the left with the same exact qualities down the right in Aaron Lennon should at least keep the forwards, most likely to be Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko as Jermaine Defoe is still out injured, busy throughout the night.

 

Match Prediction: Inter Milan to WIN – 1.75 Boylesports

I wouldn’t necessarily say Inter are stunning value but there’s enough negativity at the back for Spurs to deter us from backing their sublime run in the competition to date to continue. Tactically Inter are right up their with the very best, but the game will ultimately be decided in the midfield. Can Inter’s creative duo of Sneijder and Coutinho combine to deadly effect and assist the prolific Samuel Eto, and how will Spurs cope without Rafael Van Der Vaart? Perhaps the inform Gareth Bale and the skilful Aaron Lennon can combine to deadly affect.

So many interesting match-ups and it could boil down to who wins their individual battles when it comes to deciding the winner. But, with Tottenham’s defence currently at sixes and sevens, we fancy Inter Milan will edge this one, with Samuel Eto bang in form and so difficult to stop when at the top of his game.

Over/Under: Under 2.5 Goals – 2.10 SportingBet
First Goalscorer: Samuel Eto – 5.25 VCBet
Correct Score: 2-0 Inter Milan – 10.00 Unibet

Selected Bet: Inter Milan to WIN to NIL – 3.20 PaddyPower

 

Match Odds:

Inter Milan – 1.75 Boylesports
Draw – 3.80 bWin
Tottenham Hotspur – 5.50 SkyBet