Defender Alessandro Bastoni, wingback Federico Dimarco, and striker Lautaro Martinez are the three Inter players at risk of missing out on the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica through suspension.
This is highlighted by Italian news outlet FCInterNews, who note that there are three Nerazzurri players and three Benfica players who would receive a one-match ban were they to receive a yellow card in tomorrow’s first leg clash at the Estadio da Luz, as would Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
The Champions League quarterfinals are nearly upon Inter, with the team ready to travel to Lisbon to face Portuguese league leaders Benfica in the first leg.
The Nerazzurri managed to reach the last eight of Europe’s top club competition for the first time in over a decade with a 1-0 aggregate win over another Portuguese team, Porto, in the last round, in a fractious tie which saw plenty of yellow cards handed out to both sets of players.
The three Nerazzurri players at risk of missing the second leg of the tie against Benfica, which will come in just a week’s time, are Bastoni, Dimarco, and Martinez, all key men for Simone Inzaghi’s side.
Moreover, Inzaghi, who had already been sent off once in the Champions League during the closing stages of the dramatic 3-3 draw with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the group stage, is also at risk of facing a one-match touchline ban for the return leg at the San Siro.
For Benfica, there are also three important players from Roger Schmidt’s starting eleven who would be at risk of missing the second leg next week should their receive a booking in tomorrow evening’s match.
Midfielder Florentino Luis and striker Goncalo Ramos are both one booking away from suspension, whilst former Nerazzurri midfielder Joao Mario is also in the same boat.
