Both of Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and defender Milan Skriniar will miss out on tomorrow’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Benfica due to injury.
This according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who report that whilst both of the pair are steadily recovering, there is no chance of either of their being ready for tomorrow evening’s match at the Estadio da Luz.
The quarterfinals of the Champions League are nearly upon Inter, and despite there having been some hope of having one or both of Calhanoglu and Skriniar back, the Gazzetta report that this is not to be the case.
According to the newspaper, both of the duo had returned to working on the pitch over the weekend, but neither have yet returned to full training with the rest of their teammates as of yet.
For Calhanoglu, the problem has been a thigh strain, the presence of which was confirmed by the club’s medical staff.
The 29-year-old had picked up the injury whilst on international duty, having to come off during the first half of the Turkish national team’s EURO 2024 qualifier against Croatia during the break.
The hope has been to get Calhanoglu, who has emerged as a key player at the heart of Inter’s midfield this season has made 37 appearances so far across all competitions, back as soon as possible.
Whilst a return may not be far away for the Turk, whose injury always looked likely to sideline him for two or three weeks, it will not come tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Skriniar is still coming back from a back injury which he has explained has been causing him pain in his lower back and leg.
The Slovakian may not be far away from coming back, with many important matches just on the horizon, but as with Calhanoglu his return to the pitch will not come at the da Luz tomorrow.
