Inter Milan vs SL Benfica is a match that is not foreign to fans of the UEFA Champions League.
Both teams have met on three previous occasions in the tournament but the Portuguese side have been unable to overcome their Italian counterparts in those three meetings. Two wins for Inter and a draw between both sides tells the story of their meetings in the past.
Two of those meetings were in the 2022/23 season. Both teams came up against each other in the quarter final stage and the three-time Champions League winners Inter Milan triumphed on aggregate 5-3.
The other time both teams met was in the 1964/65 final when Inter triumphed 1-0.
The memory of last season’s defeat, especially the 2-0 first leg quarter final win at the Estádio da Luz, will be fresh in Benfica’s mind as they make the trip to Italy for this matchday 2 clash. However, they will remember fondly their performance in front of the harshest crowd they have faced, the San Siro crowd.
Benfica took the game to Inter in the second leg and almost looked like the team that could make it out of the quarter final. In the end, home advantage and great recovery from Inter settled the game, producing a 3-3 scoreline in the end.
As the Portuguese giants prepare to return to San Siro for the second time in 2023, they will draw inspiration from their performance in that game. A win against Inter will be high on their bucket list at the moment and now that the gods of football have presented them with this chance, they will be looking forward to grabbing it with both hands.
Both sides have not started the Champions League seasons well. Benfica lost 2-0 at home – and saw a player sent off – to Red Bull Leipzig while Inter relied on a late goal to comeback to a draw against long-term absentees Real Sociedad.
This is an all-important game for both teams who were seen as the top two in their group before matchday 1.
Match Tickets
Inter Milan vs SLÂ Benfica tickets are scheduled to go live one week prior to the matchday 2 clash at the San Siro between both sides on 3 October 2023.
Fans who are in the know would have joined the waiting lists on both clubs’ websites and those who are unfortunate to have missed out on the tickets will find that the tickets will be sold out in record time.
However, ticket reselling platforms like Seatsnet.com will be available for fans to buy tickets from other fans who do not intend to use theirs. There will also be limited tickets on these platforms as the stadium capacity is fixed and the clubs will only release a certain amount of tickets to the fans for many reasons.
Fans who are unable to get tickets from either avenue can join the fans at home to watch the match on any local broadcaster who is an official partner of the Champions League.
Streaming platforms like TNT Sports on Discovery+ and CBS Sports Golazo on Paramount+ are available all over the world. Fans can simply download either app, pay a subscription for these broadcast platforms and stream the match as they like.
Paramount+ is the jersey sponsor of Inter Milan which points to the possibility of the streaming platform carrying a good number of Inter Milan games this season, especially the ones in the Champions League.
Team news
Hakan Çalhanoğlu and new signing Juan Cuadrado both picked up injuries in the early stages of the season while playing for Inter Milan. Çalhanoğlu suffered muscle fatigue while Cuadrado suffered muscle inflammation. At the time of writing, both players have only missed one match but their return dates are still unclear.
If they get a run in the Serie A game before this clash, they are sure to walk back into the starting XI for Simone Inzaghi.
Midfielder Stefano Sensi is also out injured with muscular problems but unlike the former, is a squad player who may or may not have been considered for the starting XI against Benfica. Simone Inzaghi will have a little tweaking to get the best against Benfica.
The Portuguese team, on the other hand, will be playing without starlet Antonio Silva, who saw red against Leipzig. Benfica will miss the young defender, who is also adept at attacking and provides a great goal threat.
Lucas Ventura was also substituted early in that game as a precaution which means that he could be out for a while depending on the outcome of the tests carried out on him. Roger Schmidt will have a little headache trying to figure out which team will take Inter Milan head on.
Lineups
Schmidt will not take risks with Inter Milan and will put forward his best foot. Angel Di Maria, Otamendi, João Mario will start for Benfica. The rest of the XI will most likely be based on the outcome of their weekend fixture in the Portuguese league.
Trubin; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes; Neves, Kokcu; Di Maria, Rafa, Joao Mario; Cabral
Inter are not letting up this season and will treat the Benfica match like a final. For this reason, only emergency injuries or last minute tactics will prevent these predicted lineups from just being a prediction.
Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, A. Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Frattesi, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram.
Prediction
Inter Milan vs SL Benfica is going to be an intense match. Both teams will come out guns blazing from the start just as they did during their quarter final meeting last season. They will also be buoyed by their starts to the ongoing season, Benfica especially, who risk leaving the Champions League at the group stages after two straight quarter final appearances. Inter will take full advantage of the fact that they have their 12th man (the home fans) with them and take the game to Benfica.Â
The Portuguese side will play fearlessly but carefully, having suffered a loss of personnel to suspension in the last game. This little detail will give Inter the win although an upset will not be a strange occurrence.
Inter Milan 2 – 1 Benfica.
