Inter is in big crisis at the moment. They lost from Chievo at Sunday, before that lost from city rival Milan. They are big nine points behind Milan at the moment and the coach Rafa Benitez is under great pressure. I won`t be surprised if he resign this week. The match against Twente is not crucial, but a victory here will secure Inter progress in the knock out stage. But the problem for Benitez is that many players are unavailable. Tonight Inter is without Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Thiago Motta, Maicon, Julio Cesar, Cristian Chivu and Coutinho.
Nothing to lose
Twente is currently third on the table with two points less then Tottenham and Inter. A defeat at Giuseppe Meazza will surely means end of the hopes for progress. Coach Michel Preud`homme has almost all players available as only defender Rasmus Bengtsson is out due to groin injury. The good news is that midfielder Theo Jansson is available.
Twente is able to make surprise
I think Twente is able to stay unbeaten at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. They are solid team that made lot of problems to Inter in the first leg. The final score was 2:2 and I expect something similar here. The main reason for my pick is fact that Inter is in big crisis. Coach Rafa Benitez is under big pressure and he has many unavailable players. The players confidence is lost and it is always difficult to play in such situations. But I think Benitez will be satisfy with one point here. So, draw is very probable.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 4.02
Bookie: 5Dimes
Chievo is over-performing in the league this season, as we see them on 11th position. They miss Luciano for the match. They are unbeaten in 2 matches, both ending 0-0. I doubt that the same result will be repeated this fixture.
Benitez on
Inter lost their biggest derby against Milan without firing a single bullet, so to speak. They failed to present any goods they clearly posess. They have injury problems, but for this match they should be more than ready. They still miss Samuel, Maicon and newest injured player is Milito. However, they still have so much quality to show. Cesar and Cambiasso return to the team.
Inter need to reach top
Inter will have a hard match in Europe also this week, so a good preparation for that is a league win against a side they should really be able to beat. Their main problem with injuries is the defence, but Chievo score rarely that missing Samuel will not be a big factor in this match. Therefore, I pick Inter to win this match.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2
Odd: 2.15
Bookie: Betngo
Genoa have made some great signings in the summer, but when the season started they weren`t as good as expected. Great signings like Miguel Veloso came in, but failed to impress. Now they come up against a new Inter side coached by Rafael Benitez and i think that Genoa will lose this match as they just aren`t consistent so far this season and i just can`t see them taking the 3 points from this match. At home they have 4 matches 1 lose, 1draw and 2wins back to back against Bari and Catania, but there is a whole lot of difference between these two and Inter.
Different Inter
This is not the same Inter that Jose Mourinho won the treble last year, Rafa Benitez plays guys like Biabany in the squad that aren`t as good as a Milito i would guess and the team isn`t playing as well as they did last year under Mourinho. Now Benitez is a good manager, and he gets the best out of Eto`o as we can see, he has scored 15 goals in 14 appearances this season in all competitions for Inter. It`s fair to say that when there are goals scored from Inter, you would bet that Eto`o will score, so with that in mind i really think that in this match against Genoa the best bet would be Eto`o to score.
Samuel Eto`o to score
As i said i expect here Samuel Eto`o to score, as he scores every time when Inter has scored goals in a match and i expect Inter to score here against Genoa, therefore i will go for Eto`o to score in this match.
GL!
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Prediction:
Tip: Eto’o to score
Odd: 2.65
Bookie: Unibet
The Nerazzurri have finally found some decent form, losing only once in the last 9 encounters, while at home they won three and draw once (10-1 the score line).
With last season`s key striker, Diego Milito, missing out with a groin problem, Inter have been heavily relying on Samuel Eto`o`s performances. Moved in his favourite position, the Cameroonian has scored 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions.
Important missings
Tottenham share the lead alongside Inter with four points each, a bright start at their maiden Champions League campaign and they are on a good run of three winning games, but they will have to face their toughest test so far without their most important players: Rafael van der Vaart is suspended, Jermain Defoe is injured, while Ledley King is also out with a groin injury.
The Spurs have been a hard nut to crack this season, losing only three of their 13 competitive games (all of them by the goal margin), but their defense was more vulnerable, as they only kept 2 clean sheets all season. With King out and an expected defensive pair: Gallas-Bassong, Eto`o should put a huge threat on Spurs` net.
Inter have not scored even once when Eto`o has failed to find the target, so taking a bet on the prolific striker to score anytime seems like the most logical bet.
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Prediction:
Tip: Samuel Eto’o to score anytime
Odd: 2.30
Bookie: Unibet
Probable starting eleven: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Sneijder, Stankovic; Chukwuma, Eto`o, Coutinho. Inter is in very difficult situation. Some of the key players are injured. Coach Rafa Benitez will be without Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso, Mancini and McDonald Mariga. The first two are very important and their absence is big handicap for Inter. Three other players are doubtfull: Goran Pandev, Thiago Motta and Jonathan Biabiany. Coach Benitez must put one relatively unknown player in the attack. I am speaking about Chukwuma, even the other player Coutinho is also young and inexperienced.
In good form
Probably starting eleven: Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Bale; Modric; Crouch. Tottenham is currently in good form. They managed to beat Twente in second round of Champions League. They are also good in domestic Premier League, winning the last two games against Aston Villa and Fulham. Coach Redknapp also have some problems with injured players. Out of the team are Ledley King, Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson. Plus Rafael van der Vaart is suspended after he received a red card in the last game with Twente.
Tottenham can stay unbeaten
I think Tottenham can stay unbeaten in Milano. They are in excellent form, beating the last three matches. The players confidence is surely very high at the moment. Even Inter is playing good too, I think their attack is not too strong. Two important players will miss the game, Pandev and Milito. Now Benitez has only Eto`o as experienced striker. Both Chukwuma and Coutinho are young players. They are maybe good, but experience is also important in such games. That is why I am expecting Tottenham to stay unbeaten in Italy.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 3.87
Bookie: Pinnacle
Probable starting eleven: Lobont, Cassetti, N. Burdisso, Juan, Riise; Perrotta, Pizarro, De Rossi; Menez; Borriello, Totti. Roma started very bad this season and some speculations says coach Ranieri will probably be fired if Roma failed to win today. But coach Ranieri has some problems with missing players. Rodrigo Taddei and first goalkeeper Julio Sergio are injured, while Philippe Mexes is suspended after he received the undeserved red card in previous game. However, this is derby game and everything is possible.
Benitez isn`t Mourinho
Probable starting eleven: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu; Stankovic, Cambiasso; Pandev, Sneijder, Eto`o; Milito. After Mourinho left the team many people think Inter isn`t the same team. And I agree, Rafa Benitez is poor coach. But still Inter continue to winning. Only one draw in first four matches (against Bologna in the opening round) isn`t a bad result. But now is the real test for Benitez side – game against actual vice-champion. For this game Inter will be without four players – Thiago Motta, Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel and Marco Materazzi are all injured.
No team has advantage
I think no team has an advantage here. Roma is in bad form, but Roma is playing at home. And I dare to say Roma lost at Brescia, but due to referee mistakes. It is clear that only referee saw the penalty for Brescia in the second half, as well as the red card for Mexes. On other side Inter is winning, but the level of the form isn`t like previous year. Traditionally Inter have difficulties when play against Roma. Last season for example, Roma won at home 2:1 and played 1:1 in Milano. So, I think both coaches, Ranieri and Benitez, will be satisfied with one point here.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 3.40
Bookie: Skybet
Palermo have only one point after two rounds. In first round Palermo played goalless draw with Cagliari, while in second lost from Brescia. Furthermore, Palermo lost 3-2 from Sparta Praha in the first game of UEFA Europa League on Thursday. It is clear the atmosphere in the club isn`t on desired level. Another bad news is fact that two players are injured – Goian and Pinilla will be sidelined.
Benitez on fire
Inter show big weaknesses in the start of the season, specially on road. Inter played 0:0 with Bologna and 2:2 with Twente in UEFA Champions League. Even the only victory against Udinese at home wasn`t something special. Inter managed to win after penalty shot (in fact Eto`o missed the penalty first, but scored right after that). Coach Rafa Benitez is without four important players – Thiago Motta, Stankovic, Chivu and Pandev are all injured. In situation like this, I think Inter can`t win.
Both coaches should be satisfied with draw
Both coaches should be satisfied with draw here. Palermo is playing at home, but the opponent is actual champion and actual Champions League winner. On other side this is a very hard game for Inter, even Inter with Mourinho played draw last season here. It is interesting that Inter never won twice against Palermo in the last six season. I think it won`t happened even now. Inter failed to win in two official visits this season, against Bologna in Serie A and against Twente in UEFA Champions League. I don`t think Inter can win on Sicily too. The draw will satisfied both sides, specially if we know that both Palermo and Inter had hard European games this midweek.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 3.36
Bookie: Pinnacle
Twente entered CL group phase directly as the last year’s Dutch champ, and that will be their debut in this elite competition. They are the underdogs but on paper only, while it is all different on the field, as they are full of confidence and believe in themselves, and don’t intend on stopping to play attacking. I think they couldn’t have asked for a better debut at their stadium in CL. Twente is a solid side, playing tough and offensive, and that’s why I think they’ll try to score on Inter and force the rivals to play more aggressive and commit mistakes, and open up space for them to score more thru the counters.
Bad start, warming up
Led by a new, and according to many people one of the best coaches in the world, Rafa Benitez, the Italian and world champs haven’t started out the new season the best. They were defeated in the Super Cup finals to Atletico Madrid and drew against Bologna at the start of Serie A, and now for the weekend they finally won, in a tough match over udinese. Inter, unlike Twente, knows how to play these matches and I believe they will use a good squad that will be going for a win and be the favorite from the start of the match. Most of the people expect them to win, but they will reach it only if they put in their best efforts.
Terrific start of CL season
Inter hasn’t started the season too well, but things are getting better for them. On the other hand, Twente has been undefeated for a while now. It’s no surprise the difference in the odds between the two sides is so huge but I believe it is a bit too underestimating towards the home side. Inter is usually arriving to take the points they’ve already accounted for, but we all know that won’t be so easy to achieve. Twente will play their first CL match ever and against the current defending champs. My advice is to try with the over as I believe Twente will be able to score and the Nero-azurri will return in the same manner, and possibly even with more goals.
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Prediction:
Tip: Over 2.5
Odd: 2.24
Bookie: The
Probable starting eleven: Viviano; Esposito, Portanova, Britos, Rubin; Casarini, Mudingayi, Ekdal, Garics; Di Vaio, Gimenez. It was a great surprise when new owner Sergio Porcedda decide to fired coach Colomba last week. The team will be temporary lead by youth team boss Paolo Magnani. I am not sure this was a good idea, but the time will show. During the summer transfer period some new players sign for Bologna – Albin Ekdal, Gyorgy Garics and Matteo Rubin are the most important acquisitions. It is also important to be mentioned that veteran striker Marco Di Vaio stay in the club. Now the question is if Bologna better then last season. My opinion is yes.
First defeat fo Benitez in Super Cup
Probable starting eleven: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso; Eto’o, Sneijder, Pandev; Milito. Inter started the season very good by beating Roma in Italian Supr Cup with 3:1. But the last Friday was “black Friday”. Inter didn`t manage to win the fourth trophy as they lost from Atletico Madrid in UEFA Super Cup. I am sure the new coach Rafa Benitez and all the players are disappointed now. However, one thing is sure – the departure of Jose Mourinho is big handicap for Inter.
Bologna can stay unbeaten
I think Bologna can stay unbeaten against the champion. I see three reasons for my pick. First of all, Bologna is playing at home, on Renato Dall`Ara Stadium. Bologna will have big support from the fans and it is an important factor. The second reason is Inter. The defeat from Atletico Madrid at Friday showed Inter isn`t like last season. There will be big pressure on coach Benitez, everybody is comparing him with Mourinho and I am sure he is little frustrated. And it is always difficult to play in such situation. And the third reason is based on the fact that Inter players are more tired. They played against Atletico Madrid at Friday, then traveled to Milan at Saturday, and just the next day traveled to Bologna. Because of that I think very motivated Bologna players are able to stay unbeaten at home.
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Prediction:
Tip: x
Odd: 3.90
Bookie: Pinnacle
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