Inter Milan vs. Borussia Dortmund – Prediction (23.10.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Internazionale and Borussia Dortmund last met in the quarter-final of the 1993-94 UEFA Cup – Inter won 4-3 on aggregate on their way to winning the trophy that year. Inter’s Nicolò Barella could become the fourth player to score in each of his first two European Cup/Champions League home matches for the Nerazzurri, after Roberto Boninsegna (1971), Alessandro Altobelli (1980) and Mauro Icardi (2018). Borussia Dortmund and Inter last faced in the European Cup in April 1964 in the semi-final, with Inter progressing on aggregate and going on to win the final.

Inter are winless in six UEFA Champions League (UCL) games (D3, L3), with their 2-1 defeat at Barcelona on matchday two being the fifth in that sequence to separate the teams by under 1.5 goals. On a more positive note, two of those three draws (all ending 1-1) saw Inter equalise after conceding an opener beyond the hour mark. Nicolò Barella scored Inter’s last-ditch equaliser in their UCL group stage home opener. In turn, four of his last five competitive goals (including three penalties) have arrived beyond the hour-mark. The ‘Nerazzurri’ are, at least, unbeaten in their last five UCL games at the San Siro (W2, D3 – GF 7, GA 5). All matches saw both teams score, as part of a run of eight straight UCL home games separating the teams by less than 1.5 goals.

All seven of Inter’s goals across their last five UCL home games have arrived beyond the 70th minute. Seven of Dortmund’s last nine UCL away wins have seen them score first inside the opening 15 minutes. Sixteen of Inter’s last 17 UCL goals scored / conceded at home have arrived in the second half.

With Borussia Dortmund’s last ten UCL games (W5, D2, L3) seeing at least one team draw a blank, the first goal here may well be vital. Their last three victories in that sequence saw them win both halves, win the first half 1-0, and score at least once beyond the 75th minute. Dortmund’s Achraf Hakimi was at the double in the German side’s last UCL away game. Both goals arrived in the final 15 minutes of their respective halves. Additionally, Dortmund have won every one of the last 11 UCL away games to see them score first. Seven of the last eight games in that group saw them win the first half with a clean sheet.

Match Info and Live Scores.

Pre-match League Table.