Prediction: Monterrey vs Inter Milan

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 17/5

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Following a heartbreaking conclusion to their 2024/25 season, Italian heavyweights Inter Milan begin their Club World Cup journey on Tuesday with a clash against Monterrey in Pasadena.

Eager to turn the page under new leadership, the Serie A and Champions League runners-up enter Group E, where they are joined by their Mexican opponents as well as River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds.

Monterrey

While Tuesday’s match will be the first competitive meeting between the clubs, Inter and Monterrey have actually faced off once before—31 years ago in a friendly. Both Milan clubs traveled to Mexico for the 1994 Tecate Cup, where Inter came out on top against Monterrey.

One of two Liga MX representatives in this year’s expanded Club World Cup, Los Rayados qualified by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League—their fifth continental title in 10 years. Their best finishes in the competition came in 2012 and 2019, when they secured third place, though the tournament’s depth has since significantly increased.

Domestically, Monterrey have won five league titles, though their last came in the 2019 Apertura. In the most recent Clausura, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals on away goals by Toluca and had already bowed out of the rebranded Champions Cup at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps.

Those disappointments led to the departure of Argentine coach Martin Demichelis, with Domenec Torrent—formerly an assistant at Barcelona and Manchester City—stepping in. Torrent, who previously had short-lived stints in charge of Galatasaray and Flamengo, now takes the reins as Monterrey begin their U.S. campaign.

Backed by significant investment, the Nuevo Leon-based side have strengthened their squad with seasoned La Liga veterans, adding to a group already rich in Latin American talent. As a result, they’ll be confident about progressing from Group E.

Team News

Leading the attacking line for Monterrey is German Berterame, who scored 20 Liga MX goals last season. The Argentine-born striker has been playing in Mexico since 2019 and earned his first international cap for El Tri last year.

Los Rayados also feature several well-known names, including Sergio Canales, Oliver Torres, Lucas Ocampos, and Sergio Ramos. Now 39, Ramos returns from a month-long injury layoff to captain the side from central defence, bringing with him the experience of four previous Club World Cup titles. However, fellow defender Carlos Salcedo remains out with a long-term injury.

Playmaker Canales has contributed an impressive 31 goals and 16 assists since joining the club two years ago. He is expected to orchestrate attacks alongside veteran winger Jesus Corona, supporting lone striker Berterame in the final third.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan are one of two Italian clubs competing in this year’s revamped Club World Cup, alongside long-time rivals Juventus. The 2010 champions secured their place in the tournament through UEFA’s four-year coefficient rankings.

The Nerazzurri earned major qualification points by reaching the 2023 Champions League final—where they narrowly lost to Manchester City—and added to their tally with another deep run in last season’s competition, which ended in Munich.

However, a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, coming just days after they surrendered the Scudetto to Napoli, triggered sweeping changes at the club. Head coach Simone Inzaghi soon left to take up a role in Saudi Arabia.

Inzaghi’s replacement was Cristian Chivu, a former Inter defender who had been coaching the club’s Primavera side and had recently impressed during a 13-match spell in charge of Parma. Despite limited experience at the top level, Chivu has been entrusted with leading the Nerazzurri into this high-stakes campaign.

With two Intercontinental Cup triumphs to their name from the 1960s, Inter boast a proud tradition in international competition. Expectations are high for Chivu to inspire a fatigued but talented squad and guide them deep into the tournament.

Their campaign opens at the storied Rose Bowl against Monterrey, followed by a meeting with Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. The group stage concludes with a highly anticipated showdown against River Plate in Seattle, meaning Inter’s first priority will be to avoid an early and ignominious exit.

Team News

Inter Milan head into Tuesday’s Club World Cup opener amid significant upheaval in their forward line, with three backup strikers from last season all unavailable.

Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic have departed on free transfers, while Mehdi Taremi has been unable to travel to the United States due to ongoing airstrikes in Iran. The 32-year-old striker remains stranded in Tehran, where he had returned to accept the Iranian Footballer of the Year award.

Midfielder Piotr Zielinski is also a fitness concern after sustaining a calf injury. However, these absences could create opportunities for several fringe players, including returning loanees Sebastiano and Francesco Pio Esposito, as well as new arrivals Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique.

Barring any rotation due to fatigue, Cristian Chivu is expected to stick with his preferred 3-5-2 setup, featuring Marcus Thuram alongside captain Lautaro Martinez in attack. Martinez netted 22 goals in all competitions last season, though he endured a difficult end to the campaign due to a lingering thigh issue.

Conclusion

Both teams endured setbacks in their domestic and continental campaigns, but Inter’s struggles have been more profound, with a weary squad still in need of rebuilding.

Physically and mentally drained, the Nerazzurri could be vulnerable, giving Monterrey a chance to capitalize on their experience and snatch a valuable point to kick off their Group E campaign.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 17/5

Bookmaker: ZetBet