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Inter vs River Plate: Club World Cup Preview
Inter Milan and River Plate meet on Wednesday at Lumen Field in a pivotal Group E showdown at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with both sides tied on four points after two matches. With only goal difference separating the teams, this clash will likely determine who finishes top of the group and secures a more favourable route in the knockout stage.
by Berba
Inter come into the game having edged Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 in their second outing, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner, following a 1-1 draw with Monterrey in their opening fixture. Cristian Chivu, recently appointed manager following Simone Inzaghi’s departure after a 5-0 loss to PSG in the Champions League final, has seen his side forced to rally from behind in both Club World Cup matches. Despite those sluggish starts, the Nerazzurri remain unbeaten, but questions remain about their ability to control matches defensively, having kept just one clean sheet in their last five across all competitions.
On the other side, River Plate made an emphatic start to their tournament with a 3-1 win over Urawa, before a dominant but goalless draw with Monterrey left them sharing top spot in the group. Marcelo Gallardo’s side have now lost just once in their last eight matches and appear tactically organised, with Facundo Colidio a consistent threat in attack and youngsters like Mastantuono providing flair from midfield. However, River’s inability to convert possession into goals in their last match could be costly in a tight group scenario.
In terms of team news, Inter remain without a number of key players. Denzel Dumfries, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Yann Bisseck, Benjamin Pavard, and Piotr Zielinski are all sidelined. Chivu is likely to continue with Lautaro Martinez and Sebastiano Esposito leading the line, supported by a makeshift midfield.
River Plate, meanwhile, will be without three suspended midfielders — Enzo Perez, Kevin Castano, and Giuliano Galoppo — which may force Gallardo into a significant reshuffle. Sebastian Driussi also misses out through injury, leaving Colidio to shoulder the attacking burden in what could be a more cautious approach given their reduced depth.
With both sides eyeing top spot — and potentially avoiding a powerhouse like Manchester City or Real Madrid in the next round — the stakes are high in this heavyweight group finale.