Benfica vs. Inter Milan: Preview and betting tips

On Tuesday, the Champions League returns.The quarter-finals will open with Benfica Lisbon and Inter Milan alongside Manchester City and Bayern Munich. What to expect and what to bet on?

Benfica can focus solely on the Champions League. Although they lost to second-placed Porto at the weekend, they still have a seven-point lead at the top of the table. In the eighth round of the competition, they beat Belgian side Bruges.

Inter Milan, on the other hand, also need to focus on Serie A, as they dropped to fifth place after their weekend draw with Salernitana. They are only one point behind the Top 4, having knocked out Portugal’s FC Porto in the Champions League semi-finals.

Benfica’s key players

The home side rely on goals from the tidy striker Goncalo Ramos, with the Portuguese international having netted 25 and assisted 11. Speedy winger and 2016 European champion Rafa Silva has scored 12 goals and added nine assists.

Inter’s key figures

Lautaro Martinez is firing on the away side, the Argentine striker has netted 17 goals and assisted on ten. The 2020 European champion with Italy and central midfielder Nicolo Barella struck six times and added eight assists.

Benfica rely on their goal attack, and have the sovereign best of the Portuguese league with 68 shots, giving Bruges a total of seven goals in the eight-final. They have scored more than once in seven of their last nine games.

Inter’s offense, on the other hand, has fallen apart. It has struck more than once in only one of its last nine games, while only managing to win two of them. Against Porto, it struck once in 180 minutes and was only very lucky to advance.

Considering Benfica’s home strength, the productivity of Ramos and the rest of the team, as well as Inter’s poor form, I think the Italians won’t be able to handle an away game and will lose in Portugal.

Source: Livesport