While Benfica are sitting pretty at the Liga Portugal summit and have won four of their last five matches in all competitions (L1), their European form has been dire. The Eagles sit bottom of Group D in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) after losing all four of their matches so far, leaving them eliminated from the competition and needing to eclipse a three-point deficit to RB Salzburg to ensure their continental campaign extends into the spring.
Next visitors, Inter Milan, have already qualified, and the Serie A leaders will be a seriously tough test for Roger Schmidt’s men, who were beaten on this ground by the Nerazzurri in the quarter-finals of last season’s UCL. That forms part of an ongoing three-match losing home streak in this competition, but as Benfica won five of their six UCL matches on their own turf prior to that sequence, perhaps confidence remains they can salvage some pride from this campaign.
Inter are fearsome opposition however, with the Italian giants opening a UCL campaign by going four matches unbeaten for the first time since 2009/10 – a season in which they were crowned European champions. Simone Inzaghi’s men are still looking to lay claim to top spot in Group D however, as they currently trail Real Sociedad on goal difference ahead of their clash at the San Siro on matchday six.
The Nerazzurri arrive in the Portuguese capital unbeaten in ten matches in all competitions (W8, D2), although a 1-1 draw at Juventus at the weekend ended a run of five consecutive away victories. They’ve also avoided defeat in five successive UCL road trips (W3, D2), and with four of those games seeing them claim a clean sheet, Inter have shown they’ll be a tough nut to crack against any opposition.
Players to watch: Benfica’s only goal of this UCL campaign was scored by Rafa Silva, who was also on target in their 2-0 domestic victory against Famalicão on Saturday. Inter’s all-action midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu had contributed to goals (four) or yellow cards (two) in six consecutive matches, although that sequence ended against Juventus on Sunday night.
Hot stat: Inter scored first in 11 of their last 12 matches, with the exception coming in their stalemate with Juve at the weekend.
