Inter Milan vs Benfica Predictions

• Benfica have lost three straight games heading into this clash
• Inter have kept three clean sheets from three Champions League knockout games this year
• The hosts have won their last three home games in Europe to nil
• That run has brought 1-0 victories over Porto and Barcelona

European redemption for Inzaghi

If Inter Milan weren’t in the Champions League, manager Simone Inzaghi would likely be out of a job. The former Lazio boss has seen Inter struggle domestically of late, putting their top four hopes at risk. The Nerazzurri sit fifth in Serie A, but they’re on the verge of making the last four in Europe’s top competition.

Inter lead 2-0 after their visit to Lisbon last week and they’re 90 minutes away from their first Champions League semi-final since winning the tournament in 2010. Inzaghi – who remains under huge pressure after a tough domestic run – could be the first Italian to lead Inter in a European Cup semi since 1981, assuming he survives in the job until the next round.

A win on Wednesday would restore some confidence, both for his players and employers, so don’t expect an typical Italian job for the hosts.

Do Benfica have enough to turn the tide?

When Benfica landed in this half of the Champions League draw with three Serie A sides, they looked capable of a run to the final having finished ahead of PSG and Juventus in the group stage. However, Chelsea’s capture of Enzo Fernandez late in the final moments of the January window has been a huge setback for the Portuguese giants.

Benfica were an incredibly controlled side with the Argentine running things in the middle of the park. Recently they’ve seen things get away from them a little, heading into this clash quarter-final on the back of three consecutive losses. The Primeira Liga leaders lost 1-0 at Chaves at the weekend, while they had suffered home defeats to Porto and Inter, scoring just once across those three games.

The visitors seem to be running on empty at the worst possible time, so turning things around in Milan could be a tall order.

Lukaku can make the difference

Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter hasn’t gone well, but the forward continues to show up in big games with strikes against Porto, Juventus and Benfica. He has scored nine goals in 14 appearances for Internazionale in the Champions League, having found the net in three of his last four appearances in the competition.

The Belgian has a brilliant record form the penalty spot, scoring each of his last 25 attempts and he meets a Benfica side who have given away 13 penalties in the UEFA Champions League since the beginning of the 2016-17 campaign, including three this term. Given that, he’s the man who can make the breakthrough in Wednesday’s second-leg.

Inter come into this clash having won their last three home games in Europe and they’ve kept a clean sheet through all three knockout games so far this term. They’ve ground out 1-0 wins over Barcelona and Porto in their last two home Champions League outings, so back another narrow win over a Benfica side who are struggling for goals.