Edin Dzeko currently looks like the favourite to start in attack for Inter in tomorrow evening’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Benfica.
This according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.it, who report that the Bosnian is ahead of Romelu Lukaku to lead the line alongside Lautaro Martinez, in what looks to be Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi’s solitary selection doubt for the match at the Estadio da Luz.
Inter coach Inzaghi has little over 24 hours left to make the decisions regarding who will start in tomorrow’s potentially season-defining match against Benfica, and according to the Gazzetta he has few doubts left.
The absences of Hakan Calhanoglu and Milan Skriniar through injury will go some way towards making up the coach’s mind for him.
In defense, Skriniar’s absence means that Matteo Darmian will start on the right of the back three, with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi the other two members of an all-Italian rearguard ahead of Andre Onana’s goal.
Denzel Dumfries will accordingly start at right-wingback, with Federico Dimarco playing on the opposite flank.
Meanwhile, Stefan de Vrij is set to start on the bench, something that has become a theme for the 31-year-old former Lazio and Feyenoord man this season and which the player has admitted he is not wholly happy about.
In midfield, Marcelo Brozovic will play in the deepest role in the trio with Calhanoglu missing, and Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are set to start on either side of the Croat.
Even though Kristjan Asllani had impressed with his start against Salernitana on Friday, Inzaghi will go with experience in midfield.
This just leaves the attack, and there is little doubt that Martinez will start.
Even with the poor recent run of form and goal drought that the Argentine has been experiencing, Martinez remains a key and trusted player in the biggest matches for Inzaghi.
As for the identity of Martinez’s strike partner, Inzaghi will have a decision on his hands, as both of Dzeko and Lukaku have started some recent matches and with mixed results.
According to the Gazzetta, however, the Bosnian currently looks to be the favourite ahead of the Belgian.
