Preview - Inter Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur 19 September 18

[Harry85]

Champions' League Group B
Inter Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday, September 19th  , 2018
01:55 am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: San Siro Stadium

Inter Milan: 
Last five matches form: W L D W L
17/18 Average goals per match: 1.74
17/18 Average goals against per match: 0.79
17/18 Top Scorer: Mauro Icardi (29)

Tottenham Hotspur:
Last five matches form: W W W L L
17/18 Average goals per match: 1.95
17/18 Average goals against per match: 0.95
17/18 Top Scorer: Harry Kane (30)

A big clash in Group B on Match Day 1 as Inter Milan take on Tottenham Hotspur at the San Siro. With Barcelona big favourites in this group, the results between these two sides could be key in determining who joins the Spanish giants in the knockout stages.

Inter haven't been great so far in Serie A, losing to both Sassuolo and Parma, with a 3-0 win away at Bologna being the one bright spot to date. Perhaps a return to European action will spark an upturn in fortunes.

Spurs started promisingly enough in the Premier League, winning their first three before coming unstuck at Watford. They were then played off the park at home against Liverpool last time out and will be looking to bounce back here.

Tottenham hold the edge in the head to head record, with three wins to two for Inter. The last clash between the sides in a 2016 friendly saw Spurs run riot in a 6-1 win.

Tottenham got their tactics all wrong against Liverpool, but in any case there's no real shame in being beaten by Jurgen Klopp's excellent side. They will once again be without key men Hugo Lloris and Dele Alli here though.

We rate Tottenham as the better side overall, but any hangover from that Liverpool game in combination with the absentees may just enable Inter to salvage a draw.




Prediction: Inter Milan 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

[Harry85]

Half time: 0 - 0
Full time: 2 - 1
Shots:  12 - 9
Shots on target: 5 - 6
Corner Kicks: 8 - 4
Possession: 49% - 51%

Milan Skriniar and Ivan Perisic were booked for the home side in this one, with referee Clement Turpin also issuing the yellow card to Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen and Michel Worm of Spurs.

Inter Milan and Tottenham kicked off this seasons Champions League with an excellent contest at the San Siro. It looked for so long as though Spurs were about to pull off a classic European away performance but then came the late drama.

Such was the pattern of play in this game that both sides probably felt they deserved to win this one, but Mauricio Pochettino's men can certainly count themselves a little unfortunate to come away with nothing in the end.

Both sides were struggling to make much of an impact through the centre of the park in the first half, with what chances there were mainly coming from wide areas, or via set pieces. Michael Worm being forced into a smart reflex save to repel a header from one of his own defenders. For Spurs Harry Kane had the best opportunity but fluffed his lines when attempting to round the keeper. 0-0 at the break.

The opening goal came in the 53rd minute. The ball breaking to Christian Eriksen in the area and his volleyed effort looping up an over the keeper via a wicked deflection. 1-0  to the away side.

Spurs then began to look very dangerous on the counter, but were unable to add to their advantage.

The equaliser came in the 86th miunute. Kwadwo Asamoah crossing from the left to pick out Mauro Icardi around twenty yards from goal. Superb first time volley into the bottom left from Icardi.

And then in the second minute of stoppage time Spurs inability to defend crosses came back to haunt them once again. A corner from the right being headed back into the area by Stefan de Vrija and then headed home by Matias Vecino. 2-1 final score.