Amouthwatering meeting with city rivals AC Milan will be Inter’s reward if they can see out their lead over Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Goals from Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku gave the Serie A side a 2-0 win in Portugal and ensured they are well on track to make it into the last-four of the competition for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2010.
Benfica will be looking to recover from a first-leg deficit in their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals tie with Internazionale when they travel to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza for the reverse match on Wednesday.
In the opening leg at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) earlier this month, Inter triumphed 2-0. Nicolò Barella scored first for the Italian side in the 51st minute. Romelu Lukaku also found the net.
Inter have been led by Edin Dzeko and Lukaku in Champions League play. The two players are the team’s joint top scorers with three goals. Dzeko and Lukaku also share the same number of match-opening goals with one each.
Benfica’s leading attacking outlet has been João Mário, who has netted on six occasions in this Champions League campaign. He is tied for fourth in the competition’s scoring charts in 2022/2023.
The hosts have been impressive in defence in Champions League play of late, as they have shut out opponents over their last three matches this season, dating to an Eric Choupo-Moting finish in their group stage loss against Bayern München
Hosts Inter have been formidable at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this Champions League season with three wins and just one loss in four contests. The Nerazzurri will be out to end a three-match home losing streak in all competitions.
Benfica have not been defeated in away matches in the competition this season with three wins and one draw away from home.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Inter have won one, drawn two and lost three. They scored four and conceded five in that period, scoring first in two of the six contests. They had one first-half goal, while their opponents netted once in the first 45 minutes.
Benfica have won three and lost three in their last six. They scored 10 and conceded six over that period, netting first in four of the six. They had five goals in the first half, while their opponents netted one time before the break.
