Inter Milan vs Real Madrid Odds & Prediction – Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1
- Inter Milan hosts Real Madrid in the first matchday of Group D in the Champions League on Wednesday, September 15th at 3:00 pm ET
- Real Madrid were only two goals away from a Champions League final last season, but Inter Milan failed to make it out of the group stage for the third straight season
- Get the odds, our analysis and betting prediction below
One of the absolute must-watch Champions League games on Wednesday is between Inter Milan and Real Madrid. The match, being played at the San Siro in Milan is set up to be a classic affair between two of Europe’s most decorated teams. With that being said, both of these clubs certainly have new looks in their starting eleven.
Real Madrid’s defense has had a massive turnover with the loss of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the middle. For Inter Milan, the losses of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi also cannot go unnoticed, as their absences will surely be felt in the attack. Conversely, these teams have also added significantly.
Whether these managers throw their new players in the deep end of the Champions League is yet to be seen. Still, the new faces and appearances of these teams make this match somehow, even more exciting.
Inter Milan vs Real Madrid Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Milan vs Real Madrid | INT +0.5 (+145) | RMA -0.5 (-165) | INT +145 | RMA +180 | DRAW +260 | Ov 3.5 (+180) | Un 3.5 (-230) |
Odds as of Sep 13th at DraftKings
Surprisingly, the Champions League odds table actually favor Inter Milan in this match. To explain, it is more so surprising because Real Madrid have had a strong start to their domestic campaign in La Liga. The Galacticos, currently sit on 10 points under newly returned manager Carlo Ancelloti, with their only points drop coming at the hands of Levante.
Additionally, Real Madrid made it all the way to the Champions League semifinals last season. Ultimately, they lost to the eventual winners Chelsea by a score of 3-1 on aggregate. Regardless, it was an impressive campaign as they also beat Atalanta and Liverpool to reach that stage. Not to mention, they had Inter Milan in their group last year as well, beating them both home and away, winning 3-2 and 2-0, respectively.
Inter Milan’s Recent Champions League Success is Porous
In contrast to Real Madrid, Inter Milan’s Champions League success is much more distant in the past. Since their victory in 2009-10, Inter Milan has only advanced past the group stage twice. The two occurrences took place in consecutive years at the start of the decade.
Who were in those groups when they advanced you might ask? Twente, Tottenham, Werder Bremen, Trabzonspor, CSKA Moscow and Lille. To put it nicely, Inter Milan has not done well when the competition is of a more serious quality.
Inter Milan vs Real Madrid Domestic Statistics
| 3 | Goals per game | 3.25 |
| 1 | Goals conceded per game | 1.5 |
| 55.0% | Possession % | 57.3% |
| 13 | Shots per game | 13 |
With that being said, Serie A is becoming a more competitive league every year. In fact, Inter Milan finally managed to take down Juventus last year for the hallowed Scudetto. It was a feat that should have instilled hope for this year’s Champions League competition.
However, with two major losses this summer in Lukaku and Hakimi, Inter Milan are back wondering if they will be able to seriously compete in Europe. The Nerazzurri did add Edin Dzeko, Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries, but it sadly still might not be enough.
𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔
Edin Dzeko and Hakan Calhanoglu are the first Inter players to both score and assist on their league debuts 🔵⚫ pic.twitter.com/hLYRJkg0I2
— GOAL (@goal) August 21, 2021
Real Madrid’s Affinity for the Champions League
With Real Madrid, it is paramount to make one thing abundantly clear; the Champions League is their competition. Yes, they too have had major losses and their defense is not quite what it used to be. Some pundits and fans might even say they are becoming too old and pragmatic.
However, with Gareth Bale back under Ancelloti, and David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga folded into the squad, this team is suddenly a little more exciting. Younger players like Vinicius, who already has bagged four goals, are starting to contribute more and more every season as well.
Not to mention, Karim Benzema is still leading the line for Real Madrid. To be fair, as long as he is still doing that, Real Madrid are a tall order for anyone in the Champions League. The Frenchman scored 29 goals in last year’s La Liga and Champions League games and already has five in all competitions this year.
Karim Benzema has been directly involved in more league goals than any other player in Europe's top five divisions this season:
◎ 4 games
◉ 5 goals
◉ 4 assistsHat-trick hero. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/gN41uPIrSR
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 12, 2021
Inter Milan vs Real Madrid Best Bet
Overall, the best bet for this match is the Real Madrid moneyline at +180. Given Inter Milan’s losses in talent and failures in the Champions League, I actually see Real Madrid as the favorite in this match.
Pick: Real Madrid moneyline (+180)
Josh Ricker is a freelance sports journalist, currently attending the University of Southern Maine (Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Marketing). He has recently interned with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and his work has been featured on Fansided, as well as now here on SBD.
