Inter Milan are seeking passage into the last eight of the Champions League as they take a slender lead to face FC Porto.
Sergio Conceicao will hope the loss to Inter Milan in the first-leg clash was just a blip in their season. Porto welcomes the Nerrazurri with a point to prove at the Estadio Dragao in what seems like a must-win game for the Primeira Liga champions.
The game at San Siro was far from soulless, as Porto went head-to-head against Inter. A late goal from substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the win for the Italian giants. Still, Conceicao will have rued the way Otavio was sent off, which certainly gave the home side the advantage.
Porto will hope to show their true colours at home when they host Inter, as they are in a good run of form. The Portuguese champions had won ten straight games before that trip to San Siro. Even in the Champions League, they had secured victory in the last four group games to top the standings.
Inter Milan know their job is far from done despite having a slender advantage in this tie. Lukaku’s late winner may have put their noses in front, but Simone Inzaghi will know the challenges ahead for qualifying for the Last Eight of the Champions League.
Not our night. #SpeziaInter 2-1 (FT)#ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/HWUOzO0TJj
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 10, 2023
Between that victory against Porto at home and now, Inter have lost two of their three Serie A games. The latest came at the weekend against Spezia. While they remain under pressure to keep hold of the second spot domestically, Inzaghi will be expected to take the team into the quarters of the Champions League.
Inter also have a terrible record against Portuguese opponents away from home in UEFA competitions, winning only one of their eight outings. Their last two visits here had resulted in defeat, but that came back in 2006. Inzaghi will hope to clear that record to some degree and steer his side into the next round with a positive result against Porto.
Team News & Tactics
FC Porto
Porto have a few injury problems, with Evanilson and Gabriel Veron ruled out of the Inter Milan game. Meanwhile, they will miss Otavio after the attacking midfielder’s sending-off in the first leg. Daniel Namaso could replace the absent star in the side for the return game.
Crónica de treino👉 https://t.co/wRgaai36B6#FCPFCIM #UCL pic.twitter.com/fjNUamhvM7
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) March 13, 2023
Galeno was taken off against Inter early in the second period, although he returned to the bench last weekend. Sergio Conceicao will decide on his inclusion for the second leg. If absent, Pepe Aquino will switch sides, and Andre Franco could come in on the right side of the attack.
Mehdi Taremi was also benched for the weekend game, and he should come in to start against Inter. Similarly, midfielder Mateus Uribe should return to the starting lineup and partner Marko Grujic in central midfield.
Joao Mario and Zaidu Sanusi could keep their places on either flank in the full-back roles. Veteran Pepe will captain the side and have Ivan Marcano as his partner in central defence. The impressive Diogo Costa will continue as Porto’s No.1 between the sticks and hope to keep a clean sheet against Inter.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Costa; Mario, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Grujic, Uribe; Franco, Namaso, Aquino; Taremi
Inter Milan
Joaquin Correa and Milan Skriniar are doubts here, with the former certainly out of contention for the midweek game. The defender could recover and make a return to their backline.
Full focus in the final training session before #PortoInter ⚽️🧠#ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/ryc9CkN4W6
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 13, 2023
Simone Inzaghi could make a few changes from the team that played against Spezia at the weekend. Andre Onana should return in goal and replace Samir Handanovic. Milan Skriniar should complete the back three and replace Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi should keep their places at the back. Meanwhile, Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco should replace Matteo Damian and Robin Gosens on either wing. In terms of changes, Hakan Calhanoglu could replace Marcelo Brozovic.
The Turkish star will have Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan as midfield partners. Romelu Lukaku could make his first Champions League start for Inter Milan this season and warrants a place after scoring the winner in the first leg.
Probable lineup (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lukaku, Martinez
Key Stats
- Porto have won eight of their last ten games across all competitions.
- Porto have progressed from each of their last two last 16 appearances in the Champions League.
- Inter Milan ended Porto’s 22-game unbeaten run with a victory at the San Siro.
- Inter Milan have won just once in 8 visits to Portugal in UEFA competitions.
- Inter Milan have won four of their last seven away games in the elimination stage, with all those victories coming in the second legs.
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker has endured a difficult season upon his return to Inter after a year at Chelsea. While many expected Lukaku to hit top form from the off, the forward has taken a lot of time to get any reasonable return. His goal against Porto in the first leg was the most important this season, and he will hope for another good performance in the return leg.
Inter Milan are the team under pressure coming to Portugal, having won just once in their eight visits here. All things considered, Lukaku needs to put in a solid performance and take his team into the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Prediction
FC Porto 2-1 Inter Milan
Porto boss Sergio Conceicao will have taken the Inter loss and considered it a blip in their season. The Portuguese champions will have home advantage, where they have been imperious all season, and hope to get a victory under the lights.
Inter Milan have struggled for form away from home, and their recent loss to Spezia suggested nothing has changed in that aspect. They might find it tough against Porto but could conjure up a goal to take the clash into extra time. Yet, Porto are favourites to progress despite Inter being historically superior in the competition.
