Bet of the Day

Inter Milan v Porto: Back Martinez to bring his shooting boots

  • Paul Higham
  • Published on
  • Updated on
  • 2:00 min read
Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez is backed to hit the target

Paul Higham is backing Lautaro Martinez to shoot on sight in Inter Milan's Champions League tie against Porto on Wednesday.

  • Porto have kept six clean sheets in seven away games

  • Martinez has hit 2+ shots on target in last three games

  • Back 5/1 Bet Builder double on HT draw


Inter on strong run at home

Inter are miles behind Napoli in Serie A but they'll hope to put one foot into the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years in the first leg of their tie against Porto.

They've won 11 of their last 12 games at the San Siro so the 3/4 price on a home win isn't the worst price in the world, given Simone Inzaghi was also able to use his squad for the 3-1 win over Udinese at the weekend.

Inter lost to Bayern here in the group stage but also beat Barcelona and battered Plzen and have scored in 15 of their 17 home games this season so will fancy at least taking some sort of lead over to Portugal.

Porto arrive in red-hot form

Porto could hardly be in better form for this one, having not lost since October and won their last 10 games as they battle it out with Benfica and Braga in the league.

They're wiley European veterans, drew 1-1 against Milan at this venue last season, have made the quarter-finals twice in the last four seasons and have kept six clean sheets in their last seven away games.

Sergio Conceicao's side has also won their last four Champions League games while he's got 20 victories from 40 matches in charge in the competition.

A cagey opening at San Srio

First leg ties can often be cagey affairs and with Porto's recent defensive record then under 2.5 goals should be favoured at 4/6 and worth including in Bet Builders.

For the same reason, the half-time draw at 11/10 is worth considering as the first 45 minutes of a two-legged tie is the time when teams usually just feel each other out.

In terms of those who could get the precious goals, Lautaro Martinez is Inter's top scorer and 7/4 to score, but Edin Dzeko is favoured at 13/10 as he's a Champions League specialist.

Dezko has team-leading three goals and an assist in six Champions League games this season and can be backed at 5/6 to be directly involved in a goal again - if he can see-off Romelu Lukaku to land a starting spot.

Back HT draw in Inter v Porto & Martinez 2+ shots on target @

5/1

That record can be bettered by Porto's Mehdi Taremi though who has seven goal involvements (five goals, two assists) in just five games in this season's competition.

Taremi is 3/1 to score here, and you suspect that if Porto do get a goal he'll score it, or 9/5 in the score or assist market.

The possibility of few goals though means taking Martinez to have 2+ shots on target at 13/10 might be the best bet as he's managed that in the last three games - even including one as a sub.

Overall Inter are worthy of favourites tag, but that half-time draw price looks the way to go while using Martinez's recent shooting prowess to inflate at Bet Builder to a decent price.

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Column P/L 2022/23

Staked: 221pts
Returned: 251.58pts
P/L: +30.58pts

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Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.

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