Porto will host Inter Milan on Tuesday for the second leg of their round-of-16 at 20:00GMT. With the Italian side enjoying a 1-0 advantage, Porto will look to overturn it at home and bolster their chances of making it to the quarters of the Champions League.
Key Highlights
Porto’s Winning Form
Porto warmed up for the Inter clash with two consecutive wins away to Chaves (1-3) and at home to Estoril Praia (3-2). Sérgio Conceição will look to maintain this run of form at home when his men host Inter on Tuesday in a decisive clash that will determine who progresses to the quarters.
Inter’s Form
In their last three matches, Inter have won once and lost twice. They lost at Bologna (1-0) and at Spezia (1-0). Their traveling form is becoming a worry just before they travel to Porto for the second leg of their tie. Simone Inzaghi will look to fix this ahead of the clash on Tuesday.
Injury Report
FC Porto
Sérgio Conceição’s selection for the visit of Inter will be hampered by three absences from his first team due to injury.
Left winger Gabriel Veron will be unavailable for selection in the second leg on Tuesday. The 20-year-old attacking wide man has been sidelined with an ankle injury since January 30, 2023. The young forward has missed 9 matches already for Porto this season, and a return date has not been set yet.
Porto will also be without the services of 23-year-old center-forward Evanilson. The attacker has been nursing a muscle injury, which has hampered him since February 23, 2023. Evanilson has been unavailable in the last three matches and will not be available for the visit of Inter.
Sérgio Conceição will also be without Galeno; the 25-year-old left winger has a muscle injury. Right midfielder Otavio is also suspended for the visit of Inter after being sent off in the first leg at the San Siro.
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi will be without three important players for the trip to the Stadio Dragao to face Porto for the second leg of their round-of-16 tie.
Center-back Milan Skriniar is closing in for a return. However, the clash with Porto might come too soon for the defender, making his participation in the squad highly doubtful. The 28-year-old is sidelined with Lumbago.
Second striker Joaquin Correa is nursing a hamstring injury. Although he is expected to be back fit by March 12, the match in Portugal might come too soon for his match fitness, just like Skriniar.
Left-back Dalbert is also sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury. The 29-year-old has been absent since July 14, 2022, and the club has set no time for his return at this point.
Possible Lineups
FC Porto
D. Costa; J. M, Fabio Cardoso, Pepe, Z. Sanusi; M. Grujic, S. Estaquio; A. Franco, D. Loader, Otavio; M. Taremi
Inter Milan
S. Handanovic; A. Bastoni, F. Acerbi, D. D’Ambrosio; R. Gosens, H. Mkhitaryan, M. Brozovic, N. Barella, M. Darmian; L. Martinez, R. Lukaku
Prediction
Porto’s focus will be dominating the game in key areas and being on top in important periods to optimize their chances of overturning their first leg 1-0 deficit. The Primeira Liga side will look to dominate the midfield through possession and quick passing.
Porto will also apply strategic pressing to recover possession and put the Inter midfield under pressure. Winning the ball higher up the pitch will be central to creating chances and penetrating the Inter defensive set-up.
Inter will be confident of maintaining their 1-0 advantage from the first leg. They will focus on displaying a defensively disciplined and compact shape, with the attacking players given the freedom to attack on the counter or when the San Siro men have possession.
Given the discipline of both sides in defense, this give will likely end in a draw; this will favor Inter and thus will see them qualify for the quarter-finals.
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