Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni feels that it will be vital for the Nerazzurri to retain their composure in this evening’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Benfica.

Speaking to InterTV ahead of the match at the Estadio da Luz, via FCInterNews, the 23-year-old emphasized the fact that not everything is set to be decided in this first leg, and that the team must stay calm and manage the match.

It is now only a matter of hours before Inter face one of the most important matches in the context of their entire season.

However, this evening’s clash at the da Luz is only set to tell half of the story of whether or not the Nerazzurri will book their place in the semifinals of Europe’s top club competition.

The second leg at the San Siro is still to come, and so there is a sense that even a win or a loss will not be the end of things, as the tie is always likely to stay finely poised heading into that match back in Milan.

“We’ve already played great matches in the Champions League this season, and we want to keep playing more, but at the same time be aware that it’s about two matches,” Bastoni said.

“Everything isn’t decided tomorrow, so even when we face difficulties we have to remain clear-headed,” the defender stressed.

Of the team’s poor recent form, Bastoni said that “Right now we haven’t been able to find the consistency we’ve wanted to in the league, we’ve created so many chances that we haven’t made the best of, particularly in recent matches.”

“In terms of how we’ve controlled play, we’ve been putting in good performances, but we haven’t been rewarded by the result,” the defender argued.

“We’re certainly very excited ahead of [the match against Benfica] but we have to remain calm.”

Of what he expects from Benfica tactically speaking, Bastoni said that “We’ve already played against teams who have similar characteristics to them, I’m thinking of Porto and Barcelona.”

“We’ve analyzed them over this week, and now we’re ready to come up against them,” he added.