Inter Milan suffered a heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. However, they now have the opportunity to start fresh in the Club World Cup, where they will face Monterrey in their first match on Wednesday morning.
After the disappointment in the Champions League, Inter went through a coaching change, with Simone Inzaghi being replaced by Cristian Chivu.
Chivu will be aiming for a positive start as Inter is considered the favorites against Monterrey, who have not been in great form recently.
Monterrey had disappointing exits in both the Mexican Clausura final phase and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, losing to Vancouver Whitecaps on away goals.
Team news
Monterrey's Carlos Salcido is uncertain due to an ankle injury, while Sergio Ramos is included in the squad despite not playing in a league match since April. The experienced defender has returned to training and is expected to lead the team.
Inter's Mehdi Taremi is currently in Tehran after receiving the Iranian Footballer of the Year award. Hakan Calhanoglu (knee) and Piotr Zielinski (calf) are sidelined, and Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic have departed the club on free transfers. New signings Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique are available for selection.
The stats
In four of their last five games, Inter has scored at least two goals.
Inter's two recent victories were secured with a 2-0 scoreline.
Monterrey has conceded two goals in three of their last four matches.
Both teams have scored in 11 of Monterrey's last 14 games.
Prediction
Despite their heavy defeat in the Champions League final, Inter displayed quality football to reach that stage and are expected to demonstrate their superiority against Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Leading Inter to success shortly after taking charge will be challenging for Chivu, but with a strong squad at his disposal, his initial target will be to progress past the group stage.
Despite some injury concerns and the absence of Mehdi Taremi, Inter possesses talented players like Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, who are likely to feature in the opening game.
Inter will aim for a quick start and capitalize on Monterrey's recent inconsistent form. While Monterrey has made significant investments in their squad, they have not been able to dominate domestically and are not expected to make a significant impact in the upcoming weeks.