River Plate vs Monterrey Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

River Plate and Monterrey got their Group E campaigns off to encouraging starts as they prepare to square off at a packed Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Los Millonarios jumped to the top of the group courtesy of a decent 3-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday.

And a few hours later Monterrey defied the odds to deservedly hold Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw.

River Plate vs Monterrey Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	River Plate	21/20
Best Bet	Draw or Monterrey Double Chance/2-4 Goals Range	7/4
Bet Builder	Both Teams to Score, Over 3 cards, F Mastantuono 2+ shots, F Armani 3+ saves	16/5

Key Match Stats

• River Plate are unbeaten in their last 18 matches
• Both teams have scored in eight of River Plate's last nine matches
• Monterrey have found the net in each of their last 13 fixtures
• There have been 2-5 goals in 10 of River Plate's last 11 matches
• There have been 2-5 goals in 11 of Monterrey's last 12 matches

River Plate vs Monterrey Prediction

Best Bet: Draw or Monterrey Double Chance/2-4 Goals Range @ 7/4

River Plate produced plenty of decent moments in their opening 3-1 win over a modest Urawa Red Diamonds, but it was the lacklustre periods that will offer Mexican heavyweights Monterrey hope in Pasadena.

Marcelo Gallardo's men scored three headed goals and had the game at their mercy after a flying start. But they allowed the J-Leaguers a route back and were in danger of throwing points away until Maxi Meza bagged their third.

They also lost goalscorer Sebastian Driussi to injury and that is a major negative.

It was scruffy from River Plate and Monterrey should fancy their chances, especially after their performance against an admittedly cooked Inter Milan in their opening 1-1 draw.

Inter played like a team absolutely beaten after a long season and in Pasadena - which Monterrey fans made their own - they were arguably fortunate to get a point.

Monterrey have been rejuvenated under new boss Domenec Torrent and the feeling is they have more to give. They could win this, they should certainly hope not to lose it.

The Draw or Monterrey Double Chance is an 8/11 bet - throw in a 2-4 goals range and you can pile in at 7/4.

Steve Davies says:

Driussi's injury is a serious blow to River Plate who are good, but not that good. Monterrey's fans will turn the Rose Bowl into a home game once again and they are more than good enough to at least repeat what they managed against Inter.

River Plate vs Monterrey Bet Builder Tip

• Both Teams to Score
• Over 3 Cards
• Franco Mastantuono 2+ Shots
• Franco Armani 3+ Saves
  Pays 16/5

River Plate allowed Urawa Red Diamonds seven shots on target in their Group F opener, so no wonder they have conceded in eight of their last nine games.

Defensive question marks can be posed against both these two so both teams to score looks an obvious bedrock of a bet builder.

Over three cards should be the second leg - there were six yellows in River Plate's opener (they had four) and four in Monterrey's game against Inter.

With Sebastian Driussi out River Plate will be looking to Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastuantono, who had two of his side's 13 shots against the Red Diamonds and can at least match that.

And Franco Armani in their goal had to make five saves to keep out Urawa so you can see the Mexicans testing him at least thrice.

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Steve Davies adds:

Armani's gloves were worn through against Urawa so Monterrey should be able to expose River Plate's iffy defence in what should be a game with goals and cards,

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Tactics, Form and Team News

River Plate's opening win over Urawa Red Diamonds came at a price with goalscorer Sebastian Driussi sustaining an ankle injury that has ended his tournament.

Miguel Borja replaced him off the bench and could take the No.9 role at the tip of Marcelo Gallardo's 4-3-3 set-up.

However, Los Millonarios lost control of midfield after Enzo Perez went off at half-time - he is expected to be fit - so Gallardo could bring an extra body into midfield and play Franco Mastantuono off Facundo Colidio.

Gallardo's men are now unbeaten in 18 matches and have won six of their last eight.

Expected River Plate line-up (4-1-3-1-1): Armani; Montiel, Pezzella, Quarta, Acuna; Perez; Fernandez, Meza, Castano; Mastantuono; Colidio.

Domenec Torrent went with a 3-5-2 set-up in their 1-1 draw with Inter Milan and will likely stick with that formation.

Veteran ex-Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos trained separately ahead of this game, fuelling speculation their 39-year-old captain might be struggling.

Expected Monterrey line-up (3-4-1-2): Andrada; Medina, Ramos, Guzman; Chavez, Rodriguez, Torres, Arteaga; Canales; Ocampos, Berterama.

View the full market and more odds for River Plate vs Monterrey on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.