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2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Quarter-final - Second-Leg
Inter Milan v SL Benfica
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Milan, Italy
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Kick-off is at 21h00
Inter Milan will battle it out with SL Benfica in the
UEFA Champions League match at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 18.
Champions League Form
The Italian giants claimed a 2-0 victory over Benfica in the quarter-final first-leg clash in Portugal on April 12.
The Big Grass Snake are undefeated in their last three Champions League games having recorded two victories and one draw.
Inter are also undefeated in their last three matches at home in this competition having registered three successive victories.
While Benfica saw their 13-match unbeaten run in the Champions League come to an end when they lost to Inter.
However, the Portuguese giants are undefeated in their last nine matches on the road in this tournament having recorded three draws and six wins as the away side.
What Is At Stake
Inter will progress to the semi-finals if they avoid a defeat against Benfica who are under pressure coming into the second-leg encounter.
While Benfica have to win by three clear goals in order to reach the semi-finals or by a two-goal margin to take the game to extra-time.
The winner of this tie will face one of the Italian clubs SSC Napoli or AC Milan in the semi-finals.
Team News
Inter trio of Dalbert, Milan Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu are currently injured, but the club has no suspension worries.
Meanwhile, Benfica also do not have suspension concerns, but Julian Draxler, Mihailo Ristić and Alexander Bah are currently injured.
Key Players
Inter will pin their hopes of reaching the semi-finals on world-class striker Romelu Lukaku who scored in the first-leg encounter against Benfica.
On the other hand, Benfica will look to their influential attacking midfielder Joao Mario who has scored six goals in this season's Champions League.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Quotes
"We have to win, obviously it's not the best thing but we continue to believe in it. It was a balanced game, without too many chances for both teams: when we were looking for the advantage we conceded the goal," Benfica manager Roger Schmidt said after the defeat to Inter.
"It was a difficult situation, but the players continued to fight to give their all. We then conceded the penalty, even if I think we are missing a penalty and we were unlucky with the referees' decisions.
"But in the end we have to accept the result and do our best in the return leg. "I've always said that we're not unbeatable, sometimes losing happens," he continued.
"We always try to do our best and we want to win, up until now it hadn't happened in the Champions League but in this competition, you play against excellent teams and sometimes you have to accept having a more effective team than you.
"It's not easy, but we have an opportunity. We'll have to be careful in Milan, but we'll do our best to try and get another result."
Head-to-Head
Inter and Benfica have met two times in the Champions League.
The Big Grass Snake have never lost to Benfica, having recorded two victories.
UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixtures
Tuesday, April 18
21:00 - Chelsea v Real Madrid
21:00 - Napoli v AC Milan
Wednesday, April 19
21h00 - Bayern Munich v Manchester City
21h00 - Inter Milan v SL Benfica
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