Europe’s elite are back under the lights as the Champions League quarter-finals begin. Last year’s quarterfinalists Benfica and Rof 16 side Inter Milan will try to gain the upper edge in search of progression to the semis.
To Win Match
Benfica 11/10 | Draw 24/10 | Inter Milan 51/20
Benfica
Benfica have the chance to gain the advantage with a first leg home tie against tough opposition. Despite losing several key players in recent years, Benfica has managed a huge turnover for the club from Enzo Fernandez to Darwin Nunez just to name a few, but the squad has continued to grow from strength to strength.
Head coach Roger Schmidt recently renewed his contract and deservedly so. The Eagles convincingly sit at the summit of their domestic league, in prime position to secure the title for the first time since 2018/19 and has now reached a UCL quarter final for a second successive year.
The list of injuries is not overly concerning for Benifca, as Julian Draxler and left-back Mihailo Ristic have been long-term, while Goncalo Guedes has not been missed with Rafa getting that second striker job done.
Benfica have not lost a Champions League fixture all season, winning 10 and drawing home and away against PSG in the group stages – this includes two victories over Juventus.
Benfica last made it to a semi-final when the tournament was called the European Cup back in 1990, and a victory in the first leg would be a tremendous accomplishment.
Inter Milan
Defending the Italian Serie A title did not go to plan last season, and this year has been a further drop off for Inter Milan. However, progressing from the ‘Group of Death’ with Bayern Munich and Barcelona was an accomplishment that will instill an “aurora of fear” in any opposition.
2010 UEFA Champions League winners Inter hope to make a run over a decade later. They don’t possess the quality of prime Wesley Sneijder, Lucio, Maicon, Esteban Cambiasso, and Samuel Eto’o, but the unity that head coach Simone Inzaghi has been able to instill is capable of making a good cup run.
However, injuries to integral players like Hakan Calhanoglu and Milan Skriniar have created imbalances, alongside the extremely regressed Romelu Lukaku.
Inter were able to go head-to-head with Barcelona at the Camp Nou, but failed to cut it home and away against a surging Bayern Munich. Their efforts were enough to secure second place and progression to the Round of 16 where they dispatched of Benfica rivals Porto with a single goal on home soil.
Verdict: Draw (24/10)
While the Inter Milan name might sway many punters quite quickly, playing away from home has not been comfortable for the Italians this season. They failed to find the back of the net, and their form on a whole this season has not been up to scratch.
Benfica, on the other hand, have played stronger than expected this season after losing key players. Expect Inter to play defensively, and Benfica to try and exploit that as much as possible. A low-scoring game is afoot, and the draw is my play.
