Champions League draws: Benfica-Inter in the quarter-finals, the profile

It must have been the magic of Christmas, or the aftermath of the World Cup in Qatar. It was played on 30 December and half of Schmidt’s regulars had just returned from a trip with their respective national teams. Benfica were playing in Braga and the match ended 3-0 for the hosts. The result was almost impossible according to i bookmakers, considering that for Joao Mario and his companions it was the first defeat of the season. Three months later, that event remains… quite unique: the Portuguese have lost just one game in 90 minutes and are still unbeaten in the Champions League. After beating Bruges in the round of 16, Benfica will face Inter Milan in the quarter-finals. The nerazzurri have already neutralized the offensives of Porto, the other big player in Portugal, but against the Aguias it will be a whole other story.

Winning revolution

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In August, Schmidt’s team said goodbye to the big names to make room for the young players: away Vertonghen, Taarabt, Nunez and Seferovic, inside Neres, Bah, Draxler and… Enzo Fernandez. The balance sheet of the transfer market marks an asset of 69 million as regards the summer, plus another 120 collected in January after the Argentine’s sale to Chelsea. In terms of results, nothing has changed, because Benfica – in the league and in the Champions League – are still there in front of everyone.

Schmidt’s project

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The decisive hand comes from Schmidt and, even earlier, from President Rui Costa. After Verissimo’s farewell, the fans were hoping for the arrival of another Portuguese coach, the former AC Milan player instead chose Schmidt, gained after his last experience at PSV. The German is one of the children of the Red Bull school. At the time of Salzburg and Leverkusen he proposed a vertical kick, focusing strongly on high pressing, ball recovery and instant counterattack. The principles have remained unchanged, but now he has added a dribble that entertains the fans. Benfica plays wonderfully with him, enhancing the technique and intelligence of Joao Mario and his teammates.

The stars

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The former Inter midfielder has become the top player the Nerazzurri have been waiting for. In 2016, Thohir paid out over 40 million to bring him to De Boer’s court, in 2021 he sold him on a free transfer after a couple of loans between Moscow and Lisbon. The 30-year-old has developed into a complete midfielder. He works well in the non-possession phase, dictates the timing of the counterattacks, accompanies the actions with intelligence and, in the end, scores goals. So far he has made 21, two less than striker Gonçalo Ramos. The center forward was born in 2001: a year ago he made Nunez catch his breath, then he became a regular in the national team in place of Ronaldo and in Qatar he signed a hat-trick in the round of 16 against Switzerland.

The others

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Ramos is just one of many young people who have exploded under Schmidt’s leadership. The German manager is an expert in enhancing baby talent. At Inter they know something about it: Schmidt launched Calhanoglu in Leverkusen (27 goals and 29 assists in 112 games) and then repeated it with Dumfries in Eindhoven. In Lisbon it’s the turn of Bah, right-back who was in the Czech Republic last year, Neres and Florentino. The reference form is 4-2-3-1, usually played by the usual eleven: Vlachodimos between the posts; Bah, Silva, Otamendi and Grimaldo in defence; Florentino and Chiquinho in midfield; Ramos supported by Neres, Rafa Silva and Joao Mario. Positive note for Inzaghi: Otamendi, charismatic leader and defense commander, will be disqualified in the first leg for yellow cards.

The numbers

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Just as Inter managed to qualify in the iron group with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the Portuguese did even better by triumphing in the group with Juventus and PSG. In Europe they are still undefeated. They won just two draws, both against Mbappé & Co., then they always dominated until the round of 16. In their last outing against Bruges they even scored five goals, taking them to 107 total goals for the season. They have suffered just 28, of which 8 in as many Champions League matches. And in the championship? First place with 65 points, eight more than the chasing Porto. Lautaro and his companions will have to raise the bar…