Former Roma, Fiorentina, and Torino striker Ciccio Graziani feels that Inter’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica will be more or less evenly matches.

Speaking on Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, Graziani gave the view that both the Nerazzurri and the Portuguese league leaders would have essentially the same chances of going through to the semifinals.

Inter will undoubtedly feel that they’ve gotten a kinder draw for the quarterfinals of the Champions League with Benfica than they would’ve if they’d been drawn against a team like Manchester City, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich.

This does not mean, however, that Benfica are not a highly formidable side in their own right, or that they will be easy for Inter by any stretch of the imagination.

From the perspective of former striker Graziani, the tie will be essentially even.

“I think the fact that they made it to this round of the Champions League has given them a boost, and now there are no excuses for them,” Graziani said of the Nerazzurri’s form.

“At the start I think it’s even as to which of Inter or Benfica go through to the next round,” he added.

“And then they have league matches against teams like Monza and Salernitana, there’s no excuse for them not to be winning those matches.”