The quarterfinals of the Champions League begin with a big matchup here between Benfica and Inter. Both teams have nearly equal chances of getting to the semifinals, and they are on the easier side of the draw, as Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich are all on the other side.
Benfica have been very consistent this year in all competitions. They are currently sitting at the top of the Portuguese Premier League, seven points above Porto. The Eagles are yet to lose in the Champions League this season, with six wins and two draws, even though they were in a group with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
Inter Milan have been dreadful this season despite winning the Italian Super Cup against Milan earlier. The Nerazzurri are currently in fifth place in the Serie A standings, which is a big drop from last year. The Snakes barely beat Porto in the last round of the Champions League to qualify, and they are not in their best period of the season.
| Tournament: | UEFA Champions League 2022-23 Playoffs, Quarter-final (1st Leg) |
| Venue: | Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal |
| Date: | 11 April 2023 |
| Time: | 7 p.m. GMT on Tuesday |
According to the best club football bookies, Benfica are the home favorites in the first leg at 2.15 (23/20). A draw is offered at 3.30 (23/10), while Inter are away underdogs at 3.60 (13/5) to beat the Eagles.
The qualifying odds for the next round are so close, but they are slightly in favor of the Eagles. Benfica are at 1.88 (22/25) to qualify, while Inter are slight underdogs at 1.95 (19/20).
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsBenfica are coming off an unexpected loss against their rivals, Porto, at home. The Eagles were on an eight-game winning streak before this defeat, but even with this loss, they are still at the top of the table. Benfica completely destroyed Club Brugge in the round of 16 of the Champions League, as they won 7-1 on aggregate and kept their undefeated UCL record of this season.
Inter Milan are coming off a 1-1 unexpected draw against Salernitana in the Serie A, being huge favorites. The Snakes are currently on a six-game winless streak, and they are in their worst form of the season right now. If the Nerazzurri somehow bounce back with a good performance in this game, they will have good qualifying chances at home in the second leg.
Despite being clubs with huge history in the European cups, Benfica and Inter Milan have had only two encounters so far. They faced each other head-to-head in the quarterfinals of the Europa League in 2004, and the Snakes knocked out the Eagles at home at that time.
Benfica: LWWWW
Inter Milan: DDLLD
Benfica have been much more solid than Inter this season, and they have the home-field advantage in the first game here. The Eagles are undefeated in the Champions League so far, while the Snakes are on a six-game winless streak.
The Champions League odds suggest that Benfica are the favorites in this match for a reason; they are playing well even after selling a world-class player like Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea. The Eagles have the second-best offense in the Champions League this season, only behind Napoli.
Benfica have a very talented front line, and they are the second-best offense in the Champions League with 23 goals. The Eagles have scored in 18 consecutive matches. Inter Milan are also scoring goals, even when they are in bad form. The Nerazzurri scored in their last two games and can find the net against an attacking Portuguese side.
Joao Mario has been a key player for Benfica this season. He is their top scorer in the Champions League with six goals and two assists in eight games. Mario has scored four goals in his last five matches with the Eagles and usually comes to the penalty spot.
While Alexander Bah is doubtful, Goncalo Guedes, Julian Draxler, and Mihailo Ristic are all out for the Eagles with injuries.
The Nerazzurri have two key injuries for this game, as Hakan Calhanoglu and Milan Skriniar are out.
Benfica are in a good position to get rid of their European curse in this matchup. They are in better shape and are expected to do well at home. Make sure you use our Benfica vs Inter 2023 predictions and bet on them at the top payout sportsbooks or betting apps to have more fun watching the game.
