Benfica vs Inter: UCL Quarterfinal, First Leg Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups and Fantasy XI

Portuguese Primeira Liga leaders Benfica will come up against Serie A giants Internazionale in this match, hoping to end a winless sequence against them. Benfica vs Inter, losing the 1965 European Cup final against them before losing over two legs (one draw, one loss) in the 2003-04 UEFA Cup round of 16 stage.

Match Details:

• Date: Tuesday, April 11
• Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST / 5 a.m. AEST (Wed, April 12)
• Location: Estadio Da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Official: Michael Oliver (ENG)

Benfica vs Inter: Match Preview

Benfica will be hoping the loss against FC Porto was a minor blip in an otherwise successful season as they stay on track to make it past the quarter-finals for the first time since losing the final to AC Milan in 1990. The defeat to Porto came as a surprise, as Benfica had been dominating domestically and in Europe. It was only their second defeat, following a loss in Braga 17 matches earlier.

Benfica have been one of the surprise packages of the Champions League this season after starting in the third qualifying round. They went on an unbeaten run to finish top in a difficult group that included powerhouses like Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus before making light work of Belgian champions Club Brugge in the Round of 16.

throughout the campaign as well. Only Napoli have scored more than Benfica's 23 goals. On the other hand, no quarter-finalist has recorded fewer goals than the 11 netted by Inter, who got past Porto in the last 16.

Things have not been going all that well for Inter in Serie A of late. If Inter are not in full-fledged crisis mode heading into tomorrow's encounter at the Estadio da Luz, they are very close, with Simone Inzaghi coming under intense criticism from his own fans.

Recent dropped points in Serie A have become a massive issue, as the only goal that the team have scored from open play in more than 500 minutes of action, Robin Gosens's early opener against Salernitana on Friday, was quickly followed by numerous missed opportunities and the concession of a late equaliser.

The fact that the team has been so wasteful with their chances has certainly been a cause for concern. If Inter continue to finish chances at the same rate as they have in previous games against Benfica, there is little chance that they will advance to the Champions League semi-finals.

Team News:

Benfica:

Benfica will be without four key players in Julian Draxler, Alexander Bah, Goncalo Guedes and Mihailo Ristic, though none of fresh issues.

Flying left-back Alex Grimaldo will hope to add to his five goal involvements in eight Champions League games.

Inter Milan:

Inter Milan are sweating on the fitness of both Milan Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu ahead of the game. Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to start, with Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko preferred.

Benfica vs Inter Milan: Head to Head:

Inter Milan have an excellent record against Benfica and have won three out of the four matches played between the two teams, with the other match ending in a draw.

The only meeting between Benfica and Inter Milan in the European Cup took place in 1965, with Benfica losing to Helenio Herrera's legendary Nerazzurri side by a 1-0 scoreline.

Also Read: https://sportzpoint.com/football/lionel-messi-first-player-to-score-against-40-different-teams-in-champions-league/

Predicted Line-ups:

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Verissimo, Antonio Silva, Grimaldo; Luis, Chiquinho; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Mario; Ramos

Inter Milan (3-5-2): Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez

FCB vs IM: Fantasy XI

Onana; Antonio Silva, Grimaldo, Bastoni; Dumfries, Luis, Barella, Brozovic, Rafa Silva, Mario; Ramos, Martinez