As part of their pre-season preparations, Inter Milan will face Al Ittihad at U-Power Stadium in Monza on Wednesday night. This friendly match will see the Serie A champions test their mettle against the Saudi Pro League giants.
Serie A Champions Preparing for Another Dominant Season | Home Win = 1.26
Inter Milan, fresh off a dominant Serie A campaign where they finished 19 points clear at the top, are gearing up to defend their title. Under the guidance of Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have transformed into a powerhouse, winning 104 of his 158 matches in charge. Inter are also eyeing success in this season's revamped Champions League.
Star striker Lautaro Martinez, who scored 24 goals in 33 league appearances last season and was the top scorer for Argentina in their Copa America triumph this summer, remains a key figure for Inter after his contract extension. Despite the departures of experienced players like Alexis Sanchez and Juan Cuadrado, Inter remain a formidable force.
Inter's pre-season has been promising, with the team remaining unbeaten in their first four matches. However, they had a close call against Serie B side Pisa, needing a late equalizer from Yann Aurel Bisseck to avoid a surprise defeat.
Al Ittihad: Look to Rebound Under New Boss After Tough Season | Away Win = 9.40
Al Ittihad, champions of the Saudi Pro League in the 2022-23 season, had a challenging 2023-24 campaign, finishing fifth and missing out on both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup. The arrival of Karim Benzema last summer was expected to boost their fortunes, but the Frenchman scored only nine goals in 21 league appearances.
New manager Laurent Blanc, who previously managed Lyon and Al-Rayyan, has been tasked with reviving Al Ittihad's fortunes. The team has struggled in pre-season, losing to Elche, Sevilla, and Real Betis. They will be keen to secure their first win of the summer against Inter.
Key Players & Team News
Inter Milan will be without new signing Mehdi Taremi, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. Tajon Buchanan is also unavailable, having spent much of the summer with the Canadian national team at Copa America.
Hakan Calhanoglu, who came off the bench against Pisa, may start, while Davide Frattesi, will be pushing for his first start.
Al Ittihad will miss full-back Ahmed Bamsaud due to a cruciate ligament injury. Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 19 goals last season, remains a key threat for the Saudi club.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 5.80
Inter Milan have a strong track record in pre-season going unbeaten in the four (4) games they’ve already played and will look to maintain their unbeaten run. | Specials Market: Home & Over 3.5 = 2.37
Al Ittihad have scored in all but one of their last five (5) games in all competitions and look likely to score again. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 & Yes = 2.08
There have been three (3) over 2.5 goals in Inter’s last five (5) games in all competitions while Al Ittihad has seen four (4) over 2.5 goals in their last five (5) games in all competitions. | Main Market: Over 3.5 = 2.14
You can check out the Inter Milano vs Al-Ittihad Preseason game on MSport here.
