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Inter logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 3, 2023 at 8pm UK
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Benfica

Inter Milan
1 - 0
Benfica

Thuram (62')
Martinez (67'), Barella (68'), Dumfries (70'), Asllani (90+5')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Benfica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Inter Milan return to Champions League action on Tuesday when they welcome Benfica to San Siro in matchday two.

Last season's beaten finalists were held by Real Sociedad on matchday one, while the Portuguese outfit were stunned by Red Bull Salzburg.


Match preview

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi reacts on September 24, 2023© Reuters

Simone Inzaghi got criticism for rotating heavily for Inter's opening game at Sociedad, but the Nerazzurri boss could lean on his tried and tested side against Benfica.

The star could be Lautaro Martinez, who netted the 87th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with La Real at Anoeta and has been on fire at the start of the season.

Martinez was the game-changer for Inter in their Serie A victory over Salernitana on Saturday, coming on for the second half to score four times in the 4-0 triumph.

Inzaghi will hope his captain is at his best on Tuesday as the Nerazzurri look to get the better of a side they eliminated en route to last year's continental success.

Inter's European form at San Siro since losing 2-0 to Bayern Munich in September 2022 has seen them go five unbeaten, keeping four clean sheets, and they seek success this week against the only side they have not defeated in the ongoing undefeated run.

Benfica's Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on September 29, 2023© Reuters

Benfica held Inzaghi's men to a 3-3 draw in last season's quarter-final clash at San Siro, although the Italian giants were 3-1 up on the night and 5-1 ahead on aggregate before Roger Schmidt's team levelled.

The Portuguese outfit were beaten 2-0 by Salzburg in matchday one, ending the Eagles' eight-game undefeated run in the group stage of the competition.

Schmidt's men have claimed back-to-back league wins since that defeat, getting the better of Porto last time out to give the away side momentum before Tuesday's encounter.

With Benfica currently fourth in Group D, another defeat leaves them playing catch-up early into the group phase, and it remains to be seen if they get the required result in Italy.

A late comeback on their last visit to Inter could be interpreted differently, even if the Portuguese side would look at it through the lenses of a comeback draw, and not considering that Inzaghi's men were 5-1 up in the tie before two late goals made it 5-3.

Inter Milan Champions League form:


Inter Milan form (all competitions):


Benfica Champions League form:


Benfica form (all competitions):



Team News

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez celebrates scoring their second goal with Alessandro Bastoni and Marcus Thuram on September 3, 2023© Reuters

Inzaghi is expected to be without the injured Davide Frattesi, Marko Arnautovic, Stefano Sensi and Juan Cuadrado.

Inter could start with Martinez and Marcus Thuram up top, with the pair's embryonic partnership bearing fruit in the early weeks of the season.

Antonio Silva was dismissed against Salzburg, and the centre-back is absent against Inter through suspension.

Schmidt has no significant injury worries; thus minimal changes are expected.


Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Morato, Aursnes; Kokcu, Neves; Di Maria, Neres, Silva; Musa


SM words green background

We say: Inter Milan 3-1 Benfica

Inzaghi's cup expertise means backing Inter to secure a win over Benfica is a safe bet, with the Nerazzurri extending their unbeaten run against the Portuguese outfit.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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Game History

How you voted: Inter Milan vs Benfica

Inter Milan
77.6%
Draw
13.1%
Benfica
9.3%
214
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Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez celebrates scoring their first goal on May 16, 2023
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TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
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17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
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24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
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