Simone Inzaghi’s Inter want to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and to do so they must first finish the job against Benfica. The Nerazzurri won the first leg 2-0 and they need to maintain the advantage gained in Portugal.
The return match between Inter and Benfica is scheduled for tomorrow night at the San Siro. AC Milan, fresh off their own quarter-final win over Napoli, waits for the victor between the Nerazzurri and the Portuguese for a semi-final fixture that could potentially become an epic two-legged Milan derby.
Inter’s probable lineup-
For the match against Benfica, Inzaghi will field his Inter with the usual 3-5-2 formation. Onana will be defending the Nerazzurri posts. Ahead of him will be Darmian, Acerbi and Bastoni. Dumfries and Dimarco will start the match on the wings.
In the middle, Barella and Mkhitaryan are sure to start. However, Brozovic and Calhanoglu are both possible options for the role of regista. The Turkish midfielder is just returning from his injury and could be well enough to come off the bench. So at the moment, the Croatian is the main candidate to play from the first minute. For the partnership up front, Lautaro Martinez will certainly start, and with him will either be Dzeko or Lukaku. For now, the Bosnian striker is ahead of the Belgian on the ballot.
Benfica in the second act-
After the 0-2 draw at the Estadio da Luz in favor of the Nerazzurri, the Lusitanians have a steep hill to climb in order to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.
Roger Schimdt’s team also comes off of a 1-0 defeat against Chaves in the Primeira Liga, which had their lead shortened to just 4 points from second place Porto. This has become Benfica’s first real moment of crisis this season.
For Schmidt, there are few doubts for his lineup: only Bah and Draxler are absent. For the rest, the Portuguese coach will have his best available squad. In the 4-2-3-1, Vlachodimos is confirmed in goal, with the back four consisting of Gilberto, Antonio Silva, Otamendi and Grimaldo. Florentino and Chiquinho should start in the midfield, with Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Joao Mario supporting the lone striker, confirmed as Goncalo Ramos.
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Gilberto, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Florentino, Chiquinho; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, João Mário; Gonçalo Ramos.
INTER (3-5-2): Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro, Dzeko.
