Inter-Benfica is a match valid for the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and is played Wednesday at 9 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Inter have one and a half feet in the Champions League semifinals: it’s been since the year of the mythological Triplete (2010) that the Nerazzurri haven’t entered the small and exclusive club of Europe’s top four. Simone Inzaghi confirms himself impeccable when it comes to the knockout rounds, and it is not heresy to say that the performance a week ago in Lisbon is undoubtedly the best of this two-faced season, which is very difficult to decipher.
Yes, because the Inter team that in the Portuguese capital imposed itself with full merit on the fearsome Benfica (0-2), which in the group stage had done Psg and Juventus in, is the same team that instead is inexplicably disappointing in the league, risking missing qualification to the next edition of the most important continental event. It is almost paradoxical, in fact, that there is even talk of exoneration (or non-reappointment) for a coach who is still fighting on three fronts – Inter, in addition to the championship, is contesting the Coppa Italia final with Juventus – and is close to a historic goal. But it could not be otherwise after their 11th defeat in Serie A, where Lautaro Martinez and his teammates have been keeping a relegation pace since mid-March, collecting barely a point in five games. At the San Siro last Saturday, Monza (0-1) also feasted: that’s three defeats in a row, without scoring a single goal.
Benfica never winning against Inter
Since its success over Lecce last March 5, Inter has won only one game, the Champions League match against Benfica, dragged by the goals of two of its most representative men, Nicolò Barella and Romelu Lukaku. It was all decided in the second half at the Da Luz: first the midfielder’s winning header; then the penalty awarded due to a foul of the former Joao Mario’s hand and converted by the Belgian center forward.
Schmidt
Passing the round armored, then. Unless, of course, a resounding thud at home that would act as a detonator in an already explosive situation. Inzaghi can do no wrong if he wants to save his bench: despite the excellent run in the Champions League and the victory of the Italian Super Cup, the club is not at all happy. And it will change its mind only if the season ends with a trophy, but especially with Inter back in the top four. It would be a mistake, in any case, to give up for dead a Benfica side that has shown great things this year and can count on a quality squad. Inter, for its part, has as many as three results at its disposal to detach the pass to the semifinals: even losing by just one goal would achieve the goal. Roger Schimdt’s lineup, on the other hand, has no choice: it must score at least two goals and concede none. The fact is that the red and whites come to the appointment at their worst moment, which is unprecedented in the season. On Saturday they cashed in their third consecutive defeat between league and cup, losing 1-0 at home to Chaves. Setback that now risks reopening the title race, considering that Porto moved to -4 from the top. In its four previous meetings with Inter Milan, Benfica has never won.
Inter-Benfica: latest lineup news
Repared to the first leg match, Inzaghi will be able to count on Calhanoglu, who entered the game in progress against Monza: the injury is a distant memory. The Turkish midfielder could settle in as director in place of a dull Brozovic. Difficult, in fact, that the Piacenza coach will decide to deprive himself of Mkhitaryan, among the best in the last period. On the flanks will take place Dumfries and Dimarco, the latter preferred to Gosens. The trio of defense, still orphaned by Skriniar, will instead consist of Darmian, Acerbi and Bastoni. In attack, Dzeko is in the ballot with Lukaku, again in the crosshairs of most critics after his mistakes with the Brianzoli.
On the other side, Schmidt recovers Otamendi: the absence of the experienced Argentine defender proved more decisive than expected in the first leg. There will be no other change from seven days ago in Benfica, which will again rely on Gonçalo Ramos in attack, supported by Joao Mario, Rafa Silva and Aursnes, with Neres ready to enter in the second half.
The Prediction
The disappointing Inter side in the league should again yield the baton to the bright and sullen one in the cup. The Nerazzurri will not make the mistake of underestimating Benfica, all the more so after the defeat to Monza. Inzaghi’s team, which has yet to concede a goal in the Champions League knockout stage, will first and foremost be concerned with containing the Portuguese, who are likely to adopt a reckless attitude from the first half, forced as they are to come back from a double disadvantage. The San Siro match could turn on in the second half, which looms more prolific than the first half. A draw, with both teams scoring, cannot be ruled out.
The probable lineups of Inter-Benfica
- INTER (3-5-2): Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Džeko, Lautaro Martínez.
- BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Gilberto, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Florentino, Chiquinho; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, João Mário; Gonçalo Ramos.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
