Champions League preview: Inter vs FC Porto, RB Leipzig vs Man City
Inter vs FC Porto
Inter face Porto at the San Siro on Wednesday night with the Serie A side second in the league – albeit trailing leaders Napoli by 15 points.
The Milan side have never lost playing at home to Portuguese opposition, but that proud record could be at risk here. After a shaky start, Porto have shown marked improvement in this Champions League campaign.
Sergio Conceicao’s side won their last four group stage matches, including a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. The Portuguese club have also lost just one game in their domestic league all season, against leaders Benfica.
And Porto have relished taking on Italian sides in this competition in recent years. They eliminated Roma in 2019, then saw off Juventus in 2021. Could Inter be next?
Coach Simone Inzaghi edged out Barcelona in the group stage, and in Serie A only Inter have beaten Napoli so far in this campaign. Yet Inzaghi’s side are far from infallible, drawing to 19th placed Sampdoria last week; earlier this year, they also lost to Empoli.
There’s a fair chance this one will be low scoring, and Porto would likely be happy to take the draw; that’s a 13/5 shot.
Alternatively, you could back Inter’s Lautaro Martinez to score. The Inter striker has eight goals in his last ten appearances in all competitions, and is 4/1 to find the opener.
RB Leipzig vs Man City
Man City could only manage a draw against Nottingham Forest when they really should have won at the weekend. If Pep was put out by that result, think how annoyed he’ll be if RB Leipzig can beat his side – which to be fair, they did last season.
Yes, in the group stage last year Leipzig were able to see off City 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena – though admittedly, that was one of only two wins the Bundesliga side managed in the competition last time out. It should be noted that City had already qualified for the round of 16, too.
Are Marco Rose’s side capable of holding their own against City this time? The German club have won each of their last four group games, including a 3-2 win over Real Madrid.
Less auspiciously, Erling Haaland faced the side on four occasions during his time with Borussia Dortmund and scored six goals against them; if the Norwegian is on song, it could be a tough night for Leipzig. That said, in seven of Haaland’s last 10 games in all comps for City, the striker has failed to find the net…
City’s away record is not the best right now either; in their last five away games in all comps, they’ve only mustered one win. Will this be yet another frustrating night for the Manchester team? Their last two Champions League games on the road have ended in goalless draws.
With that in mind, it might be worth taking a chance on the hosts frustrating City again on Wednesday night; back RB Leipzig or the draw in the double chance market at 26/25.
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