Former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello believes that Inter Milan could have some problems vs Benfica due to their possession-based style.
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via FCInterNews, the former coach noted that the Nerazzurri had previously had problems against Real Sociedad in their Champions League group.
This season, the results have mostly been positive for Inter. But there have been a couple of major exceptions.
The Nerazzurri’s Champions League opener against Real Sociedad did not see them at their best.
La Real did not necessarily dominate possession of the ball in that match. But when the La Liga team did get their foot on the ball, they moved it around quickly, precisely, and with proactive intent.
This proved just about too much for Inter to deal with.
The Spaniards could have truthfully scored more goals than the one that they did. Inter relied on some key interventions from their goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
And the Nerazzurri only really started to create chances in the closing stages of the match.
Lautaro Martinez’s late equalizer came from more or less the only telling opportunity that Inter fashioned.
And it isn’t likely to get much easier for Inter.
This evening’s opponents Benfica play a similar high-tempo possession style. The Portuguese champions will be keen to cause the same kind of problems for Inter that La Real, and Sassuolo, did.
Capello: Inter Milan Can Struggle Vs Possession Sides Like Benfica
“Inter struggle against teams that are good at winning possession like Benfica,” Capello argued.
“At the Meazza, Schmidt’s team will have to be courageous and very well-organized to take home a result,” he continued.
“Back to Inter, they have to play better than they did against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian,” he argued.
“They got a draw in the end, but they suffered there.”