Inter v Tottenham: Goalscorer markets appeal in San Siro

Inter v Tottenham
Tuesday September 18, 17:55
Live on BT Sport

Inter back at the top table

Off all the stats flying around ahead of Tuesday's showdown (note the early kick-off time), perhaps the most surprising is that Inter will be playing in the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

The season before that hiatus began, we had the famous Gareth Bale San Siro hat-trickalthough history has rather played tricks on the brain with that one.

The sight of Bale's buccaneering runs and left-foot finishes are still vivid in the memory but perhaps it's been forgotten that Inter were 3-0 up after 14 minutes, 4-0 ahead after 35 and still 4-1 in front in the 89th minute.

What made the Tottenham comeback even more remarkable was that they'd had goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes sent off after just eight minutes.

The scorers for Inter that night were Javier Zanetti, Samuel Eto'o and Dejan Stankovic, the first two part of the Nerazzurri side which had won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

As for the current Inter, they qualified for this tournament after finishing fifth last year and sit eighth in Serie A after a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Parma on Saturday.

There were also held 2-2 by Torino so Luciano Spalletti's men have managed just one point out of six in the San Siro this season.

Spurs struggling ahead of San Siro return

After kicking the season off with a trio of victories, highlighted by a 3-0 triumph at Manchester United, Tottenham head off to Italy on a downer.

For the first time since the final two games of the 2015-16 season, Mauricio Pochettino's men have lost back-to-back Premier League matches.

If the defeat at Watford was considered a blip, the 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool at the weekend highlighted some deeper flaws. The result flattered them as the Reds could have won by a far bigger margin.

There are problems at both ends of the pitch with Hugo Lloris' absence being felt and Harry Kane way short of his best. Dele Alli is also set to miss out with injury.

There is still plenty of talent in this Spurs side and they lost just one of their eight Champions League matches last season.

There's enough experience there to win an encounter like this but whether they're in the right shape to do so is another matter.

Market favours Spurs

Despite having home advantage, Inter are the underdogs at 2.98 to mark their return to the Champions League with a win.

Tottenham are 2.70 to kick off with a win while the Draw is the outsider of the three results at 3.30.

Who do you trust? My answer would be neither right now.

That could leave the draw but I'd only be playing it by default so prefer to look at other markets.

History says Overs

As well as that crazy 4-3 at the San Siro in 2010, the two shared four goals when Spurs gained revenge at White Hart Lane with a 3-1 win.

The duo met again in the Europa League in 2012/13, Spurs notching a 3-0 victory in London before Inter won 4-1 in Milan (going out on away goals). That's 19 goals in four meetings.

Over 2.5 goals is 4-for-4 and it's odds-against at 2.02 to land again.

As well as historically, that appeals on current form given that all five of Spurs' games this season have featured three or more goals.

For Inter this term, their goal make-ups read 1-4-3-1.

Scorer markets appeal

Kane may have won the Golden Boot at the World Cup but there's a player on show who scored in both the semi and final.

England were 22 minutes away from the World Cup final - almost hard to believe - before Ivan Perisic showed his eye for a goal with the equaliser that sent the game into extra-time.

And although France ran out 4-2 winners, Perisic popped up again to make it 1-1 in the first half.

This season, the Croat has continued to make hay from his left-sided forward role, scoring three in five games for club and country. That includes two in his last three Inter starts.

If Tottenham's full-backs push up as normal, he'll have the space to inflict damage.

The 7/2 (Sportsbook) for a Perisic goal looks big.

Kane could always bang one in at any moment but I'm not excited by the 11/10.

Erik Lamela looked lively when he came on against Liverpool and fired a late goal to reduce the deficit. He also scored twice in Tottenham's final game of last season.

The Argentine is an option at 4/1 but isn't guaranteed to start of course.

However, I do fancy a punt on his fellow South American Lucas Moura at a decent 11/4 (Sportsbook).

As well as his strike against Fulham and double at Old Trafford, the Brazilian created a chance all of his own before striking the outside of the post against Liverpool.

His confidence is up and he looks the man most likely to reprise Bale's San Siro heroics from 2010.

Using those bets in a Same Game Multi, it's 7.89 for Perisic to score in an Inter win and 6.4 for Moura to net in a Spurs victory. Both look viable options.

Opta stat

Tottenham have won just one of their previous nine European matches away from home against Italian opposition (D4 L4), but that victory did come at the San Siro against AC Milan thanks to a Peter Crouch winner (1-0).

RECOMMENDED BETS

1.5pts Ivan Perisic to score at 7/2 (Sportsbook)

1.5pts Lucas Moura to score at 11/4 (Sportsbook)