Inter Milan and Barcelona are set to clash once more in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal tie on Tuesday. The first leg at Barcelona ended in an exciting 3-3 draw, defying expectations that Barcelona would secure a comfortable home win. Since that thrilling encounter, Barcelona achieved a victory against Valladolid in La Liga, while the Nerazzurri kept a clean sheet in their Serie A win over Verona.
The match is scheduled to kick off from San Siro Stadium in Milan at 3 p.m. ET. Looking at the latest odds, Barcelona are listed as favorites at +115 (risking $100 to win $115) on the 90-minute money line, with Inter priced as +200 underdogs. A draw is offered at +290, and the total goals over/under is set at 3.5.
Expert Picks and Predictions
For those considering bets on the Inter Milan vs. Barcelona match, here are the Champions League picks and predictions from soccer expert Jon Eimer:
Barcelona to Win (Money Line, +115)
The team from La Liga is currently enjoying an unbeaten run of five matches, having won four of them outright. Despite conceding three goals in their last two Champions League fixtures, their defense is expected to be bolstered by the return of star goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Conversely, Inter`s attacking threat might be diminished if their top goal-scorer, Lautaro Martinez, is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Barcelona Team Total Over 1.5 Goals (-130)
According to Eimer, both sides have recently demonstrated a preference for aggressive attacking play and high defensive lines over a cautious, defensive approach. He suggests that although replicating the six goals from the first leg is uncertain, both teams are highly likely to see matches become unpredictable and potentially high-scoring if things don`t go according to plan early on. Furthermore, Barcelona themselves have netted more than 1.5 goals in four out of their last five matches.
Raphinha to Score or Assist (-115)
This specific prop bet was successful in the first leg, where the Brazilian forward provided an assist for Ferran Torres` goal. This season in the Champions League, Raphinha has been directly involved in 20 goals (12 goals, 8 assists) across 13 appearances, highlighting his significant contribution to the team`s attack.
Dominic Ashworth