Champions night, starry night. The second round of cups starts immediately with two great challenges such as Inter-Benfica e Naples-Real Madrid, ready to give endless entertainment and twists. Inzaghi and Garcia started well, but now they find themselves at the first crossroads of the season: winning would put the qualification issue on hold, while other results, however, would entangle their respective paths.
Inter – Benfica (21pm, Canale 5)
Let's start from the match at San Siro, a fascinating remake of last edition's quarter-final. This time there isn't a semi-final up for grabs, but a nice piece of it nonetheless qualification: the results of the previous round, in fact, mean that the Nerazzurri and Portuguese will face each other, respectively one and zero points. In short, making mistakes can cost you dearly, even if it is right to underline that it is the Portuguese who are in hot water. The home defeat against Salzburg, in fact, it forces Di Maria and his teammates to score points against Inter, who in turn are determined to win to shake up the group. A few months ago, in the precedents mentioned above, there was no story: the Nerazzurri already addressed the discussion at Da Luz, and then closed it definitively in the 3-3 draw at San Siro. This, however, is another story and not just because Benfica has an extra Di Maria: Schmidt is fresh from the huge success against Porto, which was fundamental both for the standings (the Eagles are now second, 3 behind Sporting Lisbon) and for morale.
Inzaghi: “Benfica is a challenging opponent, watch out for Di Maria”
“It will be a challenging match, intensity and intelligence will be needed – explained Inzaghi -. We meet a team that plays at a very high pace, they have already won the Super Cup, they know each other well and have the same coach. They have the same playing principles as last year, changed some players and brought in Di Maria. We must also unload the minds and heads of the players, it's there third game in a few days and we traveled a lot, after the derby we had Real Sociedad, Empoli and the away match in Salerno. We play a lot, but it was already like this last year and we have to adapt, the only way to do it is use rotations and prevent injuries. We need to use all the players available."
Schmitd and Di Maria in chorus: "We don't fear Inter, we will give everything"
“Inter went to the Champions League final, they didn't lose many players and they play excellent football, it's a big one It's a challenge to play against them – Schmidt's thought -. We respect it, but we are not afraid: we will try to showcase our football and fight for the three points, this is our only objective." “It will be a very complicated challenge, a lot of quality will be needed – added the former Juventus player Di Maria -. It's difficult to say where the match will be decided, but we will have to be one hundred percent: a difficult race awaits us, against a strong team."
Inter – Benfica, the lineups: Lautaro and Mkhitaryan return to the starting lineup, Schmidt focuses on Di Maria
Once the away match in Salerno has been shelved, with its related rotations, Inzaghi will return to focusing on the standard eleven, also because Frattesi's injury takes away a precious alternative. The coach has only one doubt on the right wing (Darmian favored over Dumfries), for the rest the choices have been made, therefore 3-5-2 with Sommer in goal, Pavard, Acerbi and Bastoni in defense, Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco in midfield, Thuram and Lautaro in attack. Choices also confirmed for Schmidt, who with the exception of the suspended Antonio Silva will be able to count on 4-2-3-1 better, with Trubin between the posts, Bah, Morato, Otamendi and Aursnes in the back department, Kocku and Joao Neves in the midfield, Di Maria, Rafa Silva and Joao Mario behind the lone striker Musa.
Napoli – Real Madrid (21pm, Sky, Now TV and Mediaset Infinity)
The most glamorous match of the evening, however, is that of Maradona, where Garcia's Napoli will host Ancelotti's Real Madrid. Many ideas, starting with Carletto's return to what was his home for a season and a half: a relationship that never took off in earnest and ended with a burning dismissal, the result of bad relations with De Laurentiis and the famous mutiny on a training camp punitive. Ancelotti, subsequently replaced by Gattuso, was called "boiled" left and right, only to then return to Real Madrid and win everything possible. It is therefore logical that it exists great desire for revenge, even if Napoli will do everything to stop him and give themselves an unforgettable night. Garcia, restarted with two beautiful and convincing victories against Udinese and Lecce, knows that this could really be the definitive turning point: a success against Real Madrid, in fact, would put aside the word crisis once and for all, as well as a good chunk of qualification in your pocket.
Garcia: “Real Madrid is a great club, but we will do everything to win”
“The Champions League is the most beautiful competition, it is always a special moment for us, the music gives you energy and makes you aware of the fact that you are there – Garcia's energy -. Now let's think about the match against Real Madrid, but let's not forget that it is the championship that brings us here and with the last two matches we have returned to the top 4, so now we can concentrate on this great challenge. Real is one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a unique list of successes. I know and appreciate Ancelotti like all of you, they still have about ten of the players who won two years ago, but we want to get on the pitch and do everything to win. It takes heart and we will certainly have it, but we also need the head, because there will be moments in which we will have to be good at understanding whether to push, or prevent Real from showing off its qualities."
Ancelotti snubs the controversy: "I have positive memories in Naples, it's the toughest match in the group"
"Returning to Naples is a return to the past, here I have experienced good moments and others not so good, but I certainly lived in a wonderful city that I remember positively. For us it is the most difficult match of the group stage. De Laurentiis? There is no point in always returning to this topic, if the relationship between coach and club is not at its best, it is better to stop, it was the best decision for Napoli and for me. Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen they are two excellent strikers who have risen to prominence in the last year and demonstrate the quality to play in any team, we will also have to be good at defending, because if we don't concede goals we they have a better chance of winning matches".
Napoli – Real Madrid, the lineups: Osimhen again as starter, Real with the bogeyman Bellingham
We will see again regarding Lecce's turnover the starting Napoli, just as planned. The victories against Udinese and Lecce brought a smile back to the coach's face, determined to raise the bar and take 3 points that would remain in the club's history. His 4-3-3 will see Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Natan and Mario Rui in defense, Anguissa, Lobotka and Zielinski in midfield, Politano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia in attack. Classic 4-3-1-2 for Ancelotti, dealing with the run-off between Modric (favourite) and Kroos. His Real Madrid will line up with Kepa between the posts, Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho and Camavinga in defence, Valverde, Tchouameni and Modric in midfield, Bellingham behind the attacking pair of Joselu and Vinicius.
