Inter Milan v Benfica Cheat Sheet
Inter Milan v Benfica
Kick Off: 20:00
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Watch Live: BT Sport 2
Although Inter boasting a 2-0 lead from their Champions League quarter-final first leg over Benfica should suggest that an all-Milan semi-final is almost guaranteed with Ac Milan awaiting, the 2020/21 Italian champions’ recent domestic form is evidence enough to know that this tie has plenty left on the line.
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have amassed 11 Serie A defeats already this term and, remarkably, have lost each of their last three at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with Juventus, Fiorentina and even Monza managing to leave Milan with maximum points in recent weeks. Although there’s the argument to say that they have more than half an eye on their European venture, Benfica will be using their hosts’ record as a motivating factor in the build-up.
Making the trip across Europe as Liga Portugal leaders and a four-point cushion over second-placed Porto – whom Inter eliminated in the fist knockout round to set up another Italian-Portuguese tie – Benfica will be confident of making Inzaghi’s night at least a little uncomfortable on Wednesday and adding to the increasing pressure on the Inter boss, with many already anticipating his exit this coming summer.
It’s in Inter’s nature to make their lives as uncomfortable as possible, and Benfica are a side more than capable of helping them to do that as they visit Northern Italy with a place in Europe’s last four on the line.
Selection: 1 of 3
Prediction: Lautaro Martinez To Have 2+ Shots On Target
Odds: 2.10
A lot of Inter’s hopes will be on Lautaro Martinez in attack, whether he starts beside Edin Dzeko or Romelu Lukaku as the more fixed and traditional no.9s up front for the hosts.
Lautaro is as busy a striker as they come, and while he spends a lot of his time buzzing around the box and giving defenders the thankless task in getting to grips with him, his ability to find a turn in behind and feed off of scraps sees him have chances in games. With Lukaku or Dzeko he has the perfect partner to tee him up and he is surprisingly good in the air himself.
Whoever starts at the back for Benfica will have work to do to keep the World Cup winner at bay, and he’ll be giving Odysseas Vlachodimos plenty to think about on the night.
In his nine Champions League appearances this season Lautaro has just one goal to his name – in the group stage away at Barcelona in their 3-3 draw – and he’ll be desperate to add to that and help secure Inter’s progression to the semi-finals.
Selection: 2 of 3
Prediction: Nicolo Barella To Commit 1+ Fouls
Odds: 1.36
Nicolo Barella is the definition of an all-action, combative midfielder. A modern coaches dream due to his engine and technical ability, it cannot be said that he ever shies away from a battle in the middle of the pitch.
Although he has matured and cooled considerably since his early days with Cagliari, Barella remains a midfielder with a fierce competitive streak and that tends to lead to him committing to challenges that he can’t quite win, and ultimately giving away fouls.
The Italian averages a foul a game in Serie A – with Inter generally on top in every game they play – and that figure rises to 1.4 fouls per game in the Champions League. Curiously, it halves to 0.5 in the UEFA Nations League with Italy, and with so much on the line on Wednesday it’s easy to foresee a situation where he decided to either make a tactical foul to protect Inter’s lead or simply gets a little too fired up and rushes into a challenge.
Barella to be booked might also be one worth considering, but for him to make at least one foul seems a safe shout.
Selection: 3 of 3
Prediction: Inter Milan Double Chance
Odds: 1.25
For all Inter’s problems at home domestically, they have been able to get things done time and again in Europe. They lost their first game of the Champions League campaign to an excellent Bayern Munich, but have won each of the subsequent four they’ve played at the Meazza by beating Barcelona (1-0), Viktoria Plzen (4-0) and Porto (1-0) to make it to the quarter-finals.
Benfica won’t be easy opponents by any stretch, but Inzaghi’s side have shown their ability to deliver when it counts this season – even in a poor Serie A campaign – and they’ll be backing themselves to do it again as they welcome the Liga Portugal leaders.
It’ll be close, but Inter should just shade it.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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