Inter Milan will host Benfica Lisbon on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. Having secured a two-goal advantage in the first leg in Portugal, the Italians are expected to have the upper hand in the qualification race. Get all the details about the team lineups, stakes, and streaming options for the Inter Milan vs Benfica match right here!
Here are the expected team lineups for the Inter Milan vs Benfica match: Probable lineup for Inter Milan vs Benfica.
Inter Milan’s probable lineup for the match against Benfica could be: Onana in goal, Darmian, Acerbi, and Bastoni as defenders, with Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, and Dimarco in midfield. Lautaro Martinez and Dzeko (or Lukaku) are expected to be up front.
Skriniar will remain absent from the team due to injury, just as he was in the first leg. Inzaghi has several options to choose from for the rest of the team. In their last Serie A match against Monza, Inter Milan suffered a surprising 0-1 defeat at home, despite dominating the match with 25 shots. As a result, players like Dzeko, Martinez, Acerbi, Çalhanoğlu, or Brozovic were benched for the game. Inzaghi may opt for some changes in the lineup for this crucial Champions League fixture.
Probable lineup for Benfica vs Inter Milan.
Benfica’s expected lineup for the match against Inter Milan could be: Vlachodimos as the goalkeeper, with Gilberto Junior, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, and Grimaldo in defense. Luis and Chiquinho are likely to play in midfield, while João Mario, Rafa Silva, and Aursnes are expected to play in the forward positions. Gonçalo Ramos is likely to lead the attack.
Despite being almost unbeatable in the Portuguese Championship this season, Benfica Lisbon suffered their third defeat in all competitions, and their second consecutive loss in the national scene. To overturn the two-goal deficit from the first leg, Benfica will be without the services of Julien Draxler, who is currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Danish international Alexander Bah, both of whom are injured. Mahailo Ristic’s availability for the match remains uncertain.
The Nerazzurri are looking to complete the job in their match against Benfica, as Inter Milan already have one foot in the semi-finals.
Despite going six consecutive matches without a win, including three defeats, Inter Milan faced a tough challenge last week in Lisbon against Benfica, who had shown great form in the Champions League group stage and in the round of 16. However, Simone Inzaghi’s men surprised everyone by scoring a goal from Barella just after the break and sealing their success with a penalty from Lukaku. Although they have not yet secured their spot in the semi-finals, with a two-goal lead from the first leg, Inter Milan is well on its way to qualifying, with the Lombard public expected to provide support for their team. As the season comes to a close, the 2021 Italian champions could potentially add more silverware to their collection with a semi-final of the Italian Cup to play and a qualification for the next Champions League to secure. However, for now, their focus is on the quarter-final second leg against Benfica Lisbon, who have little to lose.
Is it possible for Benfica to turn the tables?
Despite being placed in a group with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus Turin, Benfica Lisbon exceeded expectations by not just competing, but winning against Turin and drawing twice against PSG to finish on top of their group. In the round of 16, they impressively won the first leg against Bruges and then won the second leg convincingly. Although they lost to FC Porto and Chaves in their Portuguese Championship, they still maintain a comfortable lead in the title race. However, the situation is not favorable for Benfica in the Champions League as they struggled against Inter Milan in the first leg, with Joao Mario, Rafa Silva, and Gonçalo Ramos failing to score any goals. Despite the tough mission ahead, the Portuguese side will have some arguments to put forward.
On which TV channel can one watch the broadcast of the Inter Milan – Benfica match?
To ensure you don’t miss any action from the Inter Milan – Benfica return match in the Champions League quarter-finals, tune in to beIN Sports 1 for the live coverage starting at 9:00 p.m.
