Benfica and Inter Milan go head-to-head at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Wednesday night in the penultimate Champions League group stage game.
Matchday 5 of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage is all set to serve some vital match-ups. One such clash in Group D is Benfica playing hosts to Inter Milan at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, as they aim to salvage some pride in what has been quite a disastrous Champions League campaign.
The Portuguese giants might have carried over the domestic romp from last season this time around and currently sit on top of their league after winning the derby over Sporting CP after two goals in injury time prior to the international break. But the Eagles have struggled to find similar consistency on the European stage.
They have somehow managed to lose all four games, including a 3-1 drumming at the hands of Real Sociedad last time out. Despite this, they can still get Europa League football, although they will need to finally pull something of a surprise against Serie A table-toppers Inter Milan.
The visitors were also involved in a top-of-the-table clash with Juventus on Sunday, when they controlled for long stretches without creating much and had to settle for a 1-1 share of spoils. However, they appear to be serious candidates for the Champions League crown, which they came so close to winning last season.
Having already punched their knockout stage ticket after collecting ten points from their first four Group D appearances, Simone Inzaghi’s side will simply be aiming to make another European statement here.
Benfica and Inter Milan met in the Champions League quarter-finals last term, with the Nerazzurri reaching the final. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Benfica
Having used a three-man backline against Real Sociedad last time out, Roger Schmidt has reverted to the tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 system in the last two games and could stick with it here.
Schmidt has been dealing with a few key absentees in defence, with Alexander Bah and Juan Bernat all missing through injury, both dealing with respective injury issues on either side of November’s international break, though the latter is expected to return to action in the next week or two.
However, Benfica boss Roger Schmidt welcomed the return of 22-year-old midfielder Orkun Kokcu over the weekend, and he could make his first start in the midfield double pivot since the start of October. Defensive midfielder Florentino Luis could be preferred to partner the Turkey international ahead of Manchester United-linked Joao Neves.
David Neres has missed the last four matches with a meniscus injury and is set to miss this one as well, which should see Joao Mario continue on the right flank. Although former Fiorentina striker Arthur Cabral has yet to break his duck in either Champions League or Primeira Liga action this season, the 25-year-old should spearhead Schmidt’s attack here.
With Cabral misfiring, former Real Madrid and PSG superstar Angel Di Maria will have a leading role to play in Lisbon alongside creator-in-chief Rafa Silva. Danish hitman Casper Tengstedt was the hero for Benfica with his last-gasp winner against Sporting CP, but he may have to settle for a bench spot here.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Morato; Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, R. Silva, Mario; Cabral
Inter Milan
Inter Milan will be without Benjamin Pavard on Wednesday night due to a knee injury, while Alessandro Bastoni has also been ruled out with a calf issue. Stefan de Vrij and the versatile Matteo Darmian should continue to deputise in the Nerazzurri’s back three. Simone Inzaghi is also sweating over the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who picked up an ankle blow during November’s international break.
One thing that looks certain is that Inzaghi will rotate his team against Benfica on Wednesday. The former Lazio head coach used his strongest team against Juventus over the weekend. That was little surprise considering the top-of-the-table Serie A clash.
It doesn’t get much easier for Inter in the league. Inter travel to Naples to face defending champions Napoli next weekend, which is another match that could prove to be decisive for the Nerazzurri’s title chase.
According to local reports, Austrian centre-forward Marko Arnautovic will start upfront for Inter Milan against Benfica, which will allow one of either Lautaro Martinez or Marcus Thuram to catch their breath from the start, the former of whom has scored an impressive 15 goals this season for club and country, including the equaliser against Juventus at the weekend.
Juan Cuadrado returned from a long-running Achilles problem to make a substitute appearance against Juventus. The veteran wing-back could make his first start of the season here, with Denzel Dumfries possibly making way.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Darmian, de Vrij, Acerbi; Cuadrado, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Martinez
Key Stats
- Inter Milan arrive in Lisbon, aiming to add to their three-game winning run in this competition.
- Simone Inzaghi’s side are unbeaten in each of their five historic meetings against Benfica.
- The Nerazzurri have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions this season (L1 D1).
- Inter Milan have won their last three Champions League games.
- Benfica have lost each of their first four UEFA Champions League outings this season by an aggregate score of 7-1.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
El Toro, aka the Bull in Spanish, or in football vocabulary, Lautaro Martinez. There is a reason for the nickname, and that is his fierce mentality. Since a woeful World Cup, the Argentine has transformed himself as he rediscovered his mojo to show why he is one of the most feared strikers in the game.
Martinez is not a typical target-man centre-forward, but he has a mix of attributes like pace, agility, strength, and poise in front of goal. He already has 15 goals in 17 games across all competitions this season.
Prediction
Benfica 0-2 Inter Milan
On paper, this has all the makings to be a banana skin for Inter Milan, but they exude quality and can add to the Champions League misery for Benfica. They are a classy outfit, crammed full of quality, and very, very comfortable on the ball. They will want to top their group, where they are currently trailing Real Sociedad on goal difference, so back them to prove too strong for the hosts.
