Benfica vs Inter Champions League quarter-final preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, starting line-ups

Benfica and Inter meet in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday 11 April.

Where to watch Benfica vs Inter on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

Benfica are in the quarter-finals for the second season running and the sixth time in the UEFA Champions League era – they have yet to clear this hurdle since reaching the 1990 final, however. Inter's previous run beyond the last eight ended in glory, in 2010, and they have reached this stage for the first time in 12 years. Only Napoli have scored more than Benfica's 23 goals, and no quarter-finalist has registered fewer than the Nerazzurri's 11.

Starting line-ups

Benfica: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, António Silva, Morato, Grimaldo; Chiquinho, Florentino; João Mário, Rafa Silva, Aursnes; Gonçalo Ramos
Misses next match if booked: Gonçalo Ramos, Florentino, João Mário

Inter: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozović, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martínez, Džeko
Misses next match if booked: Bastoni, Dimarco, Martínez

Form guide

Benfica
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LWWWWW
Where they stand: 1st in Portuguese Liga

Inter
Form (all competitions, most recent first): DDLLDL
Where they stand: 5th in Serie A, Coppa Italia semi-finals

Expert predictions

Carlos Machado, Benfica reporter
This is a huge test for Benfica. Not just because they are facing Inter, but also because the Eagles need to react after Friday's league defeat against Porto. Losing to their arch-rivals was bad enough, but Benfica showed few ideas and were handily outplayed, suggesting they are low on the confidence that carried them this far. How they recover mentally could be key for the rest of the season – but, with half their regular defenders also out, there are certainly question marks around the team.

Paolo Menicucci, Inter reporter
Inter have been going through a torrid period in Serie A, taking just four points from six games. Having lost ten of their 29 games, the Nerazzurri have slipped out of the top four, but results do not necessarily reflect their performances. Simone Inzaghi's men continue to create chances, but Lautaro Martínez has not scored in seven games, and Romelu Lukaku has missed some great opportunities. Will the 'Lu-La' pairing rediscover their best form when it counts the most?

What the coaches say

Roger Schmidt, Benfica coach: "In the knockout stage you have to expect the opponent at their top level. For both teams it's very important, both expended a lot of energy to reach this round. We expect a top side, a very concentrated one, but this is also what we expect for ourselves. We have to be ready for a side with individual quality, and we need a top performance."

Simone Inzaghi, Inter coach: "We know the importance of the match. We have had a great journey, which has been very difficult. We have to play a great match. Benfica have not lost in the Champions League, they scored lots of goals, they are a quality team. But we are Inter, we have prepared well. Benfica have lost two games all season but they will find an Inter who know what they want and know the match we have to play."

Where is the 2023 Champions League final?

UEFA via Getty Images

Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium will host the final on Saturday 10 June 2023.

The winners gain a place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.