Date and Time: December 12, 2023, 8 pm GMT
Venue: San Siro Stadium
Team Overview
Inter Milan Hoping to Squeeze Their Home Advantage
The hosts hope to extend their winning run with the support of their home crowd. A win will ensure they finish at the top of the group.
- Recent form. W:3, L:0, D:2.
- Key players to watch. Lautaro Martinez (2 UCL Goals & 14 in Serie A), and Hakan Calhanoglu (8 Goals this season).
- Team strengths. Defensive solidity: Inter leads the Serie A clean sheet charts with ten. They’ve only conceded five goals in their Champions League campaign.
- Team weaknesses. The Nerazzurri will need to rotate in defense due to injuries to key players, leaving a second-string defensive trio.
Real Sociedad Only Need a Draw to Emerge Top
With a superior goal difference, La Real only needs a point to secure the top spot.
- Recent form. W:3, L:0, D:2.
- Key players to watch. Brais Mendez (3 UCL goals & 3 La Liga assists) and Mikel Oyarzabal (2 UCL goals & 7 in La Liga).
- Team strengths. Defense: they’ve conceded more than 1 goal once in the last 10 matches (a 2-2 draw away to Rayo Vallecano
- Team weaknesses. Their away form is wanting, with no points gained and zero goals scored in their two UCL fixtures away to Benfica (0-1) and FC Salzburg (0-2).
Head-to-Head Statistics
The two opponents have only met once in the recent past. The match ended in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their group-stage encounter. Here are some key statistics from that match.
| Real Sociedad | Inter Milan | |
| 1 | Final Score | 1 |
| 5 | Shots on Target | 1 |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 7 | Corner Kicks | 4 |
| 44.5% | Possession | 55.5% |
Player Focus
- Lautaro Martinez: The Inter Milan striker has been in great form all season. With 14 goals in 15 Serie A appearances and two in 5 UCL appearances, he’s been a central figure in the Nerrazurri’s success this season.
- Takefusa Kubo: The Real Sociedad right winger has been a key figure all season, having scored 6 goals and assisted 3 in La Liga. He’s only managed a solitary assist in the Champions League.
Our experts’ football predictions point to the matchup between Lautaro Martinez and Alex Remiro being a pivotal contest in the game. Remiro boasts a 75% save rate in La Liga and concedes an average of 0.81 goals per game. He’s only conceded two goals in the Champions League, with Lautaro being the score of one of them.
From an expected goals (xG) score of 0.74 per game, Lautaro Martinez has managed to average 1 goal per game. He takes an average of 5.96 shots per game, with 2.2 being on target. He’s bound to test Remiro throughout the match.
Tactical Analysis
Expect Inter Milan to set up in a 3-5-2 formation that has been a mainstay in the Simon Inzaghi-led team. The formation allows them to commit more players in deeper positions in the first phase of building up, ensuring game control. They will build patiently, wait for opportunities to attack on the break, and have the personnel on the wings to do so quickly.
Relying on a 4-1-2-3 formation, Real Sociedad creates from the flanks, with the full-backs and wingers working together to create chances. Expect players like Mendez and Merino to make runs into the box to receive the ball from the wings and attempt to score.
Inter’s second string back three will be a crucial battle, playing narrow, allowing wingers space for crossing. Aerial battles in Inter’s box will be crucial in the match.
Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad Expert Predictions and Analysis
Given that both teams have qualified for the round of 16, it is a low-stakes game where no side will be particularly aggressive. The managers may see the match as an opportunity to rest key players so they can be ready for domestic action on the weekend.
Inter Milan is a safe football pick to maintain their scoring streak at home in the Champions League, having done so in the last seven home matches. Our expert soccer predictions also have Real Sociedad maintaining their 11-match away scoring streak.
Betting Odds
22BET offers free football predictions to help you place bets on upcoming contests. For this, our experts’ best pick is for both teams to score – Yes, with odds of 1.82 on 22BET. Remember that odds continually change, so check the official 22BET page for accurate live prediction football odds.
Our football predictions analysis has both teams scoring in this match. With topping the group being a factor in the level of the opponent in the round of 16, both teams will have a reason to go for it in the match.
Conclusion
Expect this to be an evenly matched game, with both teams exercising patience in their build-up. Real Sociedad will expect a much easier ride than they experienced in the reverse fixture, with the hosts relying on secondary defenders. Our football bet predictions point to both teams scoring at least once, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Disclaimer:
The content provided on this page, including all football predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.
Make sure to bet on Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad with 22Bet!
Bet here
