Official Starting Lineups – River Plate Vs Inter Milan: Francesco Pio Esposito & Denzel Dumfries Start | OneFootball

Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Francesco Pio Esposito in attack and Denzel Dumfries at wingback against River Plate. Today’s final FIFA Club World Cup group stage match kicks off at 3.00 CET.

Inter Milan take on Argentine giants River Plate in the Club World Cup this evening.

And it is a massively important match. This is the final group stage match, with the Nerazzurri and River level on points at the top of the group – therefore, this is a decisive match for round of sixteen qualification.

Should Inter get at least a draw, then they are guaranteed to reach the knockouts. However, even if the Nerazzurri lose, they could still move on.

In this respect, the result of the other match in the group between Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey is also crucial.

Francesco Pio Esposito Starts In Attack

LA SPEZIA, ITALY – JUNE 1: Francesco Pio Esposito of Spezia Calcio in action against Tommaso Barbieri of US Cremonese during the Serie B match between Spezia Calcio and US Cremonese Serie B Play-off Final at Stadio Alberto Picco on June 1, 2025 in La Spezia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The most notable name on the Inter teamsheet is that of striker Francesco Pio Esposito.

The 19-year-old makes his first ever senior start for the Nerazzurri.

Pio Esposito had come off the bench in Inter’s 2-1 win against Urawa Red Diamonds – he assisted Valentin Carboni for the dramatic later.

However, this is the Italy Under-21 international’s first ever start for Inter’s first team.

Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez partners Pio Esposito in attack for the Nerazzurri.

Then, in goal it is Yann Sommer who once again starts.

In front of the Swiss, meanwhile, there is a back three of Alessandro Bastoni,

Denzel Dumfries Back Into The Starting Eleven

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale during the warm up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

At left-wingback, meanwhile, Federico Dimarco starts.

Then, on the right, it is Denzel Dumfries. The Dutchman has returned to fitness, and comes straight back into the starting eleven.

In midfield, Chivu has gone with the trio of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Kristjan Asllani, and Nicolo Barella.

In terms of injuries, meanwhile, Inter are without all of Yann Bisseck, Benjamin Pavard, Hakan Calhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Piotr Zielinski, and Marcus Thuram.

Meanwhile, Mehdi Taremi remains in his home country of Iran. The 32-year-old has been unable to travel to the US due to the closure of Iranian airspace amid the escalating conflict with Israel.

Official Starting Lineups: River Plate Vs Inter Milan

Inter Milan (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Kristjan Asllani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Francesco Pio Esposito, Lautaro Martinez. Substitutes: Josep Martinez, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Alessandro Calligaris, Stefan de Vrij, Tomas Palacios, Gabriele Re Cecconi, Carlos Augusto, Luis Henrique, Matteo Cocchi, Nicola Zalewski, Petar Sucic, Thomas Berenbruch, Valentin Carboni, Giacomo De Pieri, Sebastiano Esposito. Coach: Cristian Chivu. Suspended: no one. Injured and unavailable: Piotr Zielinski, Mehdi Taremi, Yann Bisseck, Hakan Calhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Marcus  Thuram, Benjamin Pavard.

River Plate (4-2-3-1): Armani; Montiel, Paulo Diaz, Martinez Quarta, Acuña; Kranevitter, Aliendro; Meza, Mastantuono, Colidio; Borja. Substitutes: Ledesma, Rivero, Gattoni, Casco, Bustos, Aliendro, Martinez, Rojas, Subiabre, Tapia, Lanzini, Borja. Coach: Gallardo. Suspended: Galoppo (1 match), Castaño (1 match), Perez (1 match). Injured and unavailable: Driussi, Ruberto.