Champions League betting tips: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan preview, predictions, odds and team news
Real Madrid begin their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan at the Bernabéu on Tuesday night, with José Mourinho facing his former club for the first time since returning to Madrid.
Madrid suffered their first setback of the season in Friday's 1-0 defeat to Real Betis, while Inter arrive in Spain unbeaten after winning their opening three Serie A matches, including a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Napoli.
That makes this a more intriguing contest than the outright odds suggest.
Hollywoodbets odds are shown in its profit-only decimal format, excluding the returned stake. Odds are subject to change.
Real Madrid form and team news
Madrid had won their first three La Liga games under Mourinho before the Betis defeat.
They remain the favourites here, with Opta giving them a 56% probability of victory, but their defensive absences make an outright win at 0.55 less appealing from a value perspective.
Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio are unavailable, while Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva are suspended.
Aurélien Tchouameni, Endrick, Thiago Pitarch and Marc Cucurella have all been fitness concerns, although Madrid's official squad includes Tchouameni, Endrick and Cucurella.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bellingham, Valverde; Diomande, Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe remains the obvious danger. He missed a late penalty against Betis but had already threatened repeatedly, and he will be central to Madrid's response.
Jude Bellingham is another key figure, particularly with Madrid missing several midfield options.
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Inter Milan form and team news
Inter's start has been considerably more convincing. Cristian Chivu's side have won all three Serie A games, scoring 11 goals, and demonstrated their attacking resilience by overturning a 2-0 deficit against Napoli.
Lautaro Martinez scored twice in that comeback, including the stoppage-time winner, while Marcus Thuram also found the net.
Federico Dimarco is unavailable with a knee injury and Djed Spence remains doubtful, but Inter otherwise have a strong squad available.
Predicted Inter XI: Josep Martinez; Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Curtis Jones, Calhanoglu, Augusto; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram.
That front two gives Inter a realistic route to hurting Madrid, particularly against a makeshift defence.
Best bet:Real Madrid & BTTS Yes @ 1.45
Real Madrid to win at 0.55 is difficult to recommend as a value bet when Madrid have defensive absences and Inter have started the season so strongly.
But Real Madrid & BTTS Yes at 1.45 fits the expected game much better.
Madrid have the home advantage, the superior individual quality and an excellent recent record against Inter. They have won six of the last seven meetings, while Inter have not beaten Madrid since 1998.
At the same time, Inter have enough attacking quality to score. Lautaro and Thuram arrive in excellent form, while Madrid's defensive reshuffle gives the visitors an opportunity.
The bet therefore combines the two parts of the prediction: Madrid's quality should ultimately tell, but Inter can still find the net.
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Alternative: BTTS Yes @ 0.45
If you want to avoid relying on Madrid winning, BTTS Yes at 0.45 is the simpler option.
Inter have scored in each of their opening three league games and just put three past Napoli.
Madrid, meanwhile, have conceded in their only defeat and could be forced to use an unfamiliar defensive combination.
The price is shorter, however, so I prefer the Madrid-and-BTTS combination at 1.45.
This should be much closer than the outright market suggests.
Madrid should have enough attacking quality to exploit Inter eventually, particularly with Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham capable of creating problems in multiple ways.
But Inter's current form makes a clean sheet difficult to trust.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan
Best bets
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan
Best bet: Real Madrid & BTTS Yes @ 1.45
Alternative: BTTS Yes @ 0.45
Outright: Real Madrid @ 0.55
Correct score: 2-1
Player to watch: Kylian Mbappe
The Champions League opener also carries plenty of narrative weight for Mourinho, who has insisted that his second Madrid spell should be judged on what comes next rather than his previous tenure.
For betting purposes, though, the key is simpler: Madrid are the likelier winners, but Inter look capable of making them work for it.
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