Inter Milan vs River Plate

In a tightly contested Group E of the Club World Cup, River Plate and Inter Milan, both tied at four points, face off in a crucial battle for the top spot at Lumen Field on Wednesday.

Inter Milan, still recovering from their Champions League final defeat, secured their first tournament win against Urawa Red Diamonds in their second match. Meanwhile, River Plate, the South American giants, played out a scoreless stalemate against Monterrey in matchday two but maintain a slight edge in the group standings.

For Inter’s new manager Cristian Chivu, the opening match against Monterrey was a frustrating debut. The script nearly repeated against Urawa, with Ryoma Watanabe stunning the Italian side in the 11th minute. Despite a goalless first half, captain Lautaro Martinez delivered the equalizer, and late substitutes Francesco Pio Esposito and Valentin Carboni combined for a dramatic, match-winning goal, keeping Inter’s knockout hopes alive.

With a two-point lead over Monterrey and Urawa already out, a draw with goals will secure Inter’s place in the round of 16, while a win would confirm them as group leaders—a result expected of the Serie A titans pre-tournament. A first-place finish could set up a tantalizing last-16 clash with Borussia Dortmund, who sit second in Group F, but Inter must first lock in qualification.

River Plate, in an identical position to Inter, also control their path to the knockouts, holding the group’s top spot due to a slightly better goal difference. Their convincing 3-1 victory over Urawa in the opener showcased their attacking prowess, but they couldn’t replicate that form against Monterrey, despite dominating with 18 shots and 1.68 Expected Goals (xG) compared to their opponent’s 0.13.

Like Inter, a win or score draw will ensure River Plate’s progression, and even a loss may not derail their top-two finish if Monterrey stumble against Urawa. With only one defeat in their last 19 competitive games, River Plate are in strong form, though their lone historical clash with an Italian side— a 1-0 loss to Juventus in the 1996 Intercontinental Cup—offers a cautionary tale. Notably, current coach Marcelo Gallardo was a substitute in that match.