Benfica vs Inter Milan

Estadio da Luz prepares to host its last Champions League game of the season as Group D basement boys Benfica take on joint-leaders Inter Milan.

Despite sitting comfortably at the top of the Liga Portugal table and enjoying a promising run of four wins from their last five matches in all competitions (L1), Benfica’s Champions League season is already dead in the water. Nailed to the bottom of Group D after losing all four matches, the ‘Eagles’ must overhaul a three-point deficit on third-placed RB Salzburg to salvage their continental lives and secure a switch to the Europa League knockouts. But to do so, Roger Schmidt’s side first must avenge a 2-0 defeat in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals, which forms part of their underwhelming three-game losing home streak in this tournament. Since they had managed five wins in their six previous Champions League home games before that run, there’s still hope for Benfica.

Unlike their hosts, Inter Milan’s bid to reach the Champions League knockouts for the second season running is already safe and sound as a three-game winning streak after a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on day one sealed their progression with two games to spare. Simone Inzaghi’s side squeezed past Salzburg 1-0 on the road in the previous round to bookend a five-game winning streak in competitive away action. However, that run came to an expected halt at the weekend, with ‘I Nerazzurri’ drawing 1-1 against fierce Serie A rivals Juventus. But as they’re unbeaten in all eight competitive matches on hostile turf in 2023/24 (W6, D2), Inter might feel upbeat about extending a five-match undefeated run in Champions League away games (W3, D2).