Barcelona – Inter : Preview & Prediction
With losses in their defensive line, FC Barcelona struggled mightily against Celta Vigo, but managed to keep a clean sheet (1-0) and maintain their lead in LaLiga Santander before facing two very important matches in the current campaign. The first Clasico of the season is just around the corner (16 October), but Barça (3rd in Group C – G1, P2) will first have three vital points at stake in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), where they have not been eliminated from the group stage twice since 1998-99, something that will happen again if they lose again to Inter Milan (INT 1-0 FCB, matchday 3) and Bayern score on Wednesday.
The Camp Nou is no longer the European fortress it once was: Barça have won just two of their last nine home games in UEFA competitions (G2, E3, P4). Nevertheless, Xavi’s side are on a four-game winning streak at home (cumulative record: 13-1), their best run at home since last April.
Other clubs may not feel any fear when they visit the Camp Nou, but Inter have reason to. The Azulgrana’s home ground is the stadium where the Nerazzurri have lost the most times as visitors in the UCL (five defeats). While they travel to the Condal City having managed two consecutive wins, Inter are not having a good Serie A campaign this season (G5, P4) and their last win on a visit to a LaLiga club in the UCL dates back to October 2004 (E1, P7 since then). Stints are made to be broken, and last week’s win over Barça was Inter’s first against a Spanish side in the UCL since 2010, when the Milanese club won the competition.
In what will be Inter’s 50th meeting with a Spanish side in UEFA competitions, a win would not only boost their chances of advancing as Group C winners, but also make them the first Italian club to beat Barça twice in the same UCL competition. To do so, Simone Inzaghi’s side will need to put an end to two negative records: Inter have yet to string together three wins this season and have never won three UCL away games in a row.
Players to watch: after scoring three goals in his first UCL home game for Barça (vs Viktoria Plzeň), Robert Lewandowski has the chance to become only the third player to score back-to-back hat-tricks in UCL home games. Edin Džeko is coming off a brace away to Sassuolo and was involved in both goals for Inter (G1, A1) in their last away win in the UCL.
Key stat: only one of Barça’s last nine UCL matches has featured goals from both teams.
Barcelona – Inter : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
