River Plate and Inter are set to meet in Seattle on Wednesday night for a crucial final Group E match in the Club World Cup. Both teams have accumulated four points, following a draw against Monterrey and a victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in their initial two fixtures. They understand that simultaneous victory for Monterrey over the already-eliminated Japanese side could put their qualification hopes at risk.
If Monterrey secures a win, they would reach five points, creating a high-stakes encounter at Lumen Field. A draw between River Plate and Inter would also result in both teams having five points. For River Plate, this outcome would guarantee qualification, especially given their superior goal difference from a 3-1 win against Urawa, compared to Inter`s narrow 2-1 victory secured by a late goal from Valentin Carboni. Inter might still advance with a draw even if Monterrey wins, but only if Monterrey`s victory is by a single goal difference. In such tight scenarios, tiebreakers like goals scored or disciplinary records could become decisive.
Confused by the possibilities? Wednesday night`s match promises plenty of drama!
Last Meeting
This match marks the first competitive encounter between these two clubs.
Predicted Lineups
River Plate: Franco Armani; Gonzalo Montiel, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Paulo Diaz, Marcos Acuna; Kevin Castano, Enzo Perez, Giuliano Galoppo; Franco Mastantuano, Facundo Colidio, Maximiliano Meza
Inter: Yann Sommer; Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Kristjan Asslani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram
Player to Watch
Franco Mastantuano, River Plate: This match could potentially be one of Franco Mastantuano`s final appearances for River Plate. The highly-regarded 17-year-old Argentine talent is reportedly moving to Real Madrid following this tournament, where he hasn`t fully shined yet. After a promising start against Urawa Red Diamonds, his impact faded in the match against Monterrey. This is his chance to demonstrate the potential that European clubs are anticipating.
Storyline to Watch
Will Chivu maintain the Inzaghi approach? Since taking over from Simone Inzaghi (now with Al-Hilal), Cristian Chivu has shown glimpses of tactical variation but has predominantly kept a three-man defense. Inter`s performances have lacked spark, resembling a side needing invigoration after the disappointment of missing out on the league title and Champions League success. Chivu`s decision is whether to risk a significant tactical shift to ignite the team or rely on the established methods for this critical fixture.
Prediction
This match is anticipated to be high on tension rather than free-flowing quality. Ultimately, Inter is expected to secure the necessary result.
Our Pick: River Plate 1, Inter 2
