The going will only get tougher as the UEFA Champions League progresses. Up next in this spectacular tournament will be the first-leg fixture of the Benfica vs Inter tie. The two teams have only met once in this competition: the 1964/65 Champions League final, which saw the Nerazzurri beat the Portuguese 1-0.
BENFICA
Nine wins on the bounce have granted Benfica a 10-point cushion over reigning champions Porto in the Primeira Liga. In the Champions League, the Lisbon side has coasted through the group stage as well as its Round of 16 ties against Club Brugge; suffice to say that Benfica is the side to beat this season. This season’s sales of Enzo Fernandez and Darwin Nunez have been offset by the likes of Goncalo Ramos, who has scored 24 goals in 36 games in all competitions. If there is one player to look out for ahead of Benfica vs Inter, it has to be the Portuguese 21-year-old.
Benfica’s 7-1 trashing on aggregate against Club Brugge showcased a large gap between the Belgian up-and-comers and the Portuguese high-flyers, who are stealing headlines week in, week out through the tutoring of Roger Schmidt. The German tactician has created a tough side to beat, and up against Inter at home, he will want his side to play with the tactical intelligence that has earned them so many compliments throughout this stellar season.
Benfica steps into this quarter-final as the favourite at 2.10, with Benfica to win and Over 0.50 valued at 1.88. The highest-scoring half to be the second half is listed at 2.05.
INTER
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has been under heavy scrutiny after amassing a hefty nine wins from 27 Serie A games—the Nerazzurri only lost four games in the previous Serie A season. As voices of a change echo around the Inter headquarters, Inzaghi wants to string together a Champions League run that would etch his name in the history books. Should Inter see past Benfica, it will face either AC Milan or Napoli—not a gargantuan hurdle to the final, at least, on paper.
Before dreaming about a potential appearance in the final, Inter must fix its sights on Benfica, the ruthless side that topped the group amidst favourites PSG and Juventus. In the return fixture against Porto, the Nerazzurri barely survived the onslaught. Andre Onana and the woodwork combined to help the Italian giants over the line and seal a precious 0-0 draw. With Milan Skrianiar seemingly out of Inzaghi’s equation owing to his refusal to extend his contract, Inter has to see through yet another Portuguese side, and this time around, it will have to fight even harder.
Inter to win or draw the game is at 1.67, with the exact number of goals to be one is listed at 2.90. Both teams to score by half-time is valued at 5.80.
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*Odds subject to change. Odds correct at time of publishing