Champions League Betting – Stingy Inter will hold off Bayern in Spain
Online betting players are gearing up for the final of the top club competition in Europe, the Champions League. This year’s participants will be Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, who will be looking to end droughts. Through a disciplined gameplan and their experienced defense, look for Inter to climb to the top of the European mountain for the first time in 45 years.
- What: Soccer Betting When: Saturday, May 22nd, 2:45 PM ET
- Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
- Key Stats: Inter has allowed two goals in their last five Champions League matches
The Champions League Betting Storyline
Bayern Munich has already wrapped the Bundesliga up, and could be going for a treble if they beat Werder Bremen in the DFB Pokal final next weekend. Inter Milan is in the same boat after winning the Coppa Italia over Roma on Wednesday, and they’re still trying to hold the Romans off for their fourth straight Serie A title. Bayern will be going for their fifth European title, and first since 2001, while Inter will be aiming for their third after back-to-back wins in 1964 and 1965.
Who Has The Edge On Offense: Inter vs Bayern Betting
Inter has a great strike duo in Diego Milito and Samuel E’to, but the key to the attack is Wesley Sneidjer, who pulls the strings in midfield and he’s even hit a couple of important goals in the Champions League. Inter does lead Serie A in goals scored, and they scored three against Barca at home, so they are very capable of attacking, and they have options from all over the pitch.
Ivica Olic has 10 goals in 22 league matches, but in the Champions League he has seven in seven matches, and his hat trick at Lyon in the semifinals fired Bayern all the way to Madrid. But the player that Inter will have watch over is Arjen Robben, the Dutch winger who has a bag full of tricks and a knack for big goals (just ask Manchester United). Bayern can still call on Miroslav Klose off the bench, but they’ll miss Franck Ribery, who is still appealing his red card from the first leg of the semifinals. There’s also Thomas Muller, who hit a hat trick in Bayern’s clinching win over VfL Bochum.
Edge: DrawWho Has The Edge In Defense: Inter Bayern Betting
Sportsbook players watched Inter pull off arguably the best defensive performance of the season in their 1-0 loss at Barca in the second leg of the semis, and that they did it after Thiago Motta was controversially sent off with more than an hour to go was all the more impressive. Motta is out of the final due to his red card, but Inter has enough defenders to replace him. Under Jose Mourinho, Inter plays a stout and effective defensive game and if they get a lead, it’s tough to fight back.
Philip Lahm, Holger Badstuder and Daniel van Buyten form the core of Bayern’s back four in front of Jorg Butt, while Diego Contento and Martin Gaston Demichelis usually share the last spot. Bayern also benefits from Mark van Bommel’s bustling performances in the middle of the field, and they could probably even take a defender out, that’s how good their captain is in front of the defense.
Edge: Bet On Inter MilanNotable Injuries – Inter vs Bayern Betting
Sneidjer (thigh) left after five minutes of Inter’s Coppa Italia win, and Mourinho is anxiously waiting tests to see how seriously it is.
Bayern looks to be relatively healthy ahead of their final Bundesliga and Cup final matches.
Edge: Bayern MunichTotals – Inter vs Bayern Betting
These two have met twice, going under the posted total, and this match figures to be a cagey chess match between Inter’s Mourinho and Bayern counterpart Louis van Gaal. Both managers have won Champions League titles in the past (van Gaal with Ajax in 1995, Mourinho with Porto in 2004), so they know what it takes. We’re thinking it’ll be an under here.
Edge: Under 2.5Inter Milan Bayern Munich Betting Prediction & Outlook
These European giants met in the 2006 group stages, with Bayern going to Milan and beating Inter 2-0, while the Italians fought back for a 1-1 draw in Germany. Inter’s attack will suffer if Sneijder can’t play, but they have a solid replacement in the underrated Dejan Stankovic. Robben was a one-man wrecking crew after Ribery was sent off in the first leg of the semis, and Bayern has some clinical finishers at the forward position. But we’re betting on Mourinho to draw up a gameplan as he did in Barcelona, when he shut down the leading attacking force in Europe in their own stadium. Inter has great strikers of their own, and once they get a lead, there will be no turning back. Take Inter Milan in your sports betting picks.
