Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has decided to Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez up top from start in tonight’s first leg Champions League quarterfinal clash against Benfica at the Estadio da Luz, with kick-off scheduled for 21.00 CET.
In goal Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana starts with Alex Cordaz returning to the bench where he is joined by Nerazzurri captain Samir Handanovic.
Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries play on the wings whilst it’s an all Italian international three-man central defence of Matteo Darmian and Alessandro Bastoni starting on either side of Lazio owned Francesco Acerbi.
In midfield Marcelo Brozovic starts and also wears the captains armband and the Croatian midfield maestro is flanked by Azzurri midfielder Nicolo Barella and Armenian veteran Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Up front legendary Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko returns to the lineup and is partnered up top by Argentinian FIFA World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez.
Milan Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu are still not even on the bench due to injury problems.
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Odysseas Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Antonio Silva, Morato, Alex Grimaldo; Chiquinho, Florentino; Joao Mario (C), Rafa Silva, Fredrik Aursnes; Gonçalo Ramos.
Substitutes: Samuel Soares, André Gomes, Lucas Verissimo, Rafael Rodrigues, Joao Neves, Cher Ndour, Andreas Schjelderup, David Neres, Gonçalo Guedes, Peter Musa, Joao Tome, Casper Tengstedt.
Coach: Roger Schmidt
Suspended: Nicolas Otamendi (1 match)
Injured and unavailable: Julian Draxler and Alexander Bah.
Inter (3-5-2): Andre Onana; Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic (C), Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko.
Substitutes: Samir Handanovic, Alex Cordaz, Stefan de Vrij, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Mattia Zanotti, Raoul Bellanova, Robin Gosens, Roberto Gagliardini, Kristjan Asllani, Valentin Carboni, Joaquin Correa, Romelu Lukaku.
Coach: Simone Inzaghi.
Suspended: No-one
Injured and unavailable: Milan Skriniar and Hakan Calhanoglu.
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Assistant referees: Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett,
Fourth Official: John Brooks.
VAR: Pol van Boekel assisted by Stuart Attwell.
