Benfica vs Inter Milan Betting Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Benfica vs Inter Milan on and what time does it start? Benfica vs Inter Milan will take place on Wednesday 29th November, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Benfica vs Inter Milan? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Benfica vs Inter Milan on in the UK? Benfica vs Inter Milan will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Benfica vs Inter Milan in the UK? Benfica vs Inter Milan can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BENFICA
It has been an awful Champions League campaign for Benfica, who had become accustomed to reaching the knockout stages in recent seasons. The Portuguese side have lost all four of their Group D encounters, scoring just once in the process.
They have fared better domestically as they sit top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga table, but the best they can hope for in Europe now is a spot in the Europa League.
INTER MILAN
Inter Milan have already booked their passage to the round of 16 but there is still the matter of top spot to be decided, with Simone Inzaghi's side currently locked on ten points with the impressive Real Sociedad.
Last season's Champions League runners-up have lost just one game in any competition since they were defeated by Man City in the 2022-23 final, and they come into this off the back of a 1-1 draw with Juventus on Sunday which maintained their position at the top of the Serie A table.
THE TEAM NEWS
BENFICA
Full-backs Alexander Bah and Juan Bernat, as well as attacker David Neres, are absent through injury, but Orkun Kokcu returned over the weekend and could start after missing out on Matchday 4.
Roger Schmidt must decide between misfiring strikers Casper Tengstedt and Petar Musa up front, neither whom have been scoring with any regularity of late.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Aursnes, Otamendi, António Silva, Morato; João Neves, Florentino; Di María, Orkun Kökçü, Rafa Silva; Musa
UNAVAILABLE: Bah (Injured), Bernat (Injured), Neres (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
INTER MILAN
Alessandro Bastoni is the latest to join the treatment room and Denzel Dumfries is suffering from fatigue, while Alexis Sanchez is a slight doubt and is unlikely to start given Simone's wealth of options in attack.
With a crucial Serie A clash with Napoli looming this weekend, the Milan head coach will consider a few more changes with qualification already guaranteed, with the likes of Emil Audero and Marko Arnautovic potentially starting for the Nerazzurri.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Audero; Bisseck, De Vrij, Acerbi; Darmian, Frattesi, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Arnautovic, Martínez
UNAVAILABLE: Bastoni (Injured), Dumfries (Fatigue), Pavard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Alexis Sánchez (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Benfica are without a win in their last six UEFA Champions League matches (D1 L5).
- Benfica have won only four of their last 17 UEFA club competition matches against Italian teams (D4 L9).
- Benfica have lost their first four matches in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage. The only previous time they lost their opening four matches was in 2017/18 when they went on to finish the group stage with six defeats from six matches.
- Inter have lost only one of their last nine UEFA Champions League group stage matches (W6 D2).
- Inter are aiming to win four successive matches in a UEFA Champions League group for the first time since the 2007/08 season when they won five in a row.
- Inter are unbeaten in their previous six UEFA club competition matches against Benfica (W4 D2).
- Inter have lost only two of their last 18 UEFA club competition matches against Portuguese teams (W10 D6).
- Inter have kept five clean sheets in their last six UEFA club competition matches against Portuguese teams.
THE PREDICTION
Benfica have significantly underperformed in the Champions League this season, and it doesn't get any easier for them here given that they face last season's runners-up. Inter have been relentless this season, although with the potential for them to rest one or two of their key men here, they may not be as effective in attack. With that in mind, a low-scoring game could be on the cards with under 2.5 goals predicted.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
