The UEFA Champions League is back in action with another round of matches this week as Benfica lock horns with Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan side in an important clash at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.
Benfica vs Inter Milan Match Preview
Benfica topped the competition’s Group H ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa.
They won four and drew the other two group games to emerge as surprise winners.
Having surpassed expectations, Roger Schmidt’s side could shock the struggling Italians.
Benfica drew home and away against PSG and won both ties against Juve.
They won 7-1 on aggregate against Club Brugge in the round of 16.
Having slain one Italian giant, the Portuguese will be full of belief ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
However, the same thing cannot be said of the struggling Inter.
They finished second behind Bayern Munich in Group C, pipping Barcelona and Viktoria Plzen to the round of 16 spot.
Simone Inzaghi’s side narrowly pipped Porto to the quarter-final berth after winning 1-0 on aggregate.
They will need to do better against Benfica to have a chance of advancing to the semis.
Benfica vs Inter Milan Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Inter Milan have an excellent record against Benfica and have won three out of the four matches played between the two teams, with the other match ending in a draw.
- The only meeting between Benfica and Inter Milan in the European Cup took place in 1965, with Benfica losing to Helenio Herrera’s legendary Nerazzurri side by a 1-0 scoreline.
- Benfica defeated Juventus in both their group games in the UEFA Champions League this season – they had won only two of their 11 games against Italian opponents in the competition prior to this run.
- Despite being outplayed in terms of expected goals in both legs, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan kept two clean sheets against FC Porto in the Round of 16 and won both matches by a 1-0 scoreline.
- Benfica are looking to record five victories on the trot in the European Cup for the first time since their 1989-90 campaign.
> Benfica vs Inter Milan historical statistics
Team News
Benfica will be without Alexander Bah and Gonçalo Guedes, who are both out with knee injuries.
Julian Draxler has been out with an ankle injury since February, while a thigh injury has kept Mihailo Ristic out of action since January.
Nicolas Otamendi will miss the game due to suspension, having been booked in both legs against Club Brugge.
Hakan Calhanoglu has missed Inter’s last three games due to a muscle injury.
Milan Skriniar has missed their last four games as a result of a back injury, and a serious knee injury has kept Dalbert out of action since last July.
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Silva, Verissimo, Grimaldo; Luis, Chiquinho; Mario, Silva, Aursnes; Ramos
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; D’Ambrosio, De Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
Prediction: Benfica 3-1 Inter Milan
> Benfica vs Inter Milan Live broadcast listings (TV, live streaming)
