It’s gone on both fields!
The English Michael Oliver launches hostilities on Benfica-Inter. He is imitated in the process by the Spaniard Jesus Gil Manzano who kicks off City-Bayern.
The teams are on the lawns
On both sides, kick-off is imminent. In Lisbon, the Champions League anthem has just ended as it kicks off in England.
Ten minutes before the start of the matches
At both stadiums, the Etihad Stadium and La Luz, the warm-ups are over. Kick-off will be at 9 p.m. on both grounds.
Benfica in force, Inter within
Even if Benfica has just lost to Porto (1-2), the Lisbon people have room and are heading for the title in Portugal. But in this part of the table a little less fierce than the other since the winner of this double confrontation will find the winner of Milan-Napoli for a place in the final, all hopes are allowed. And Benfica is scary with its 114 goals scored, its intense game while opposite Inter remains on four matches without a win in the league and the crisis awaits.
Read alsoBenfica-Inter: why the historic Lisbon club is a (very) big outsider in the Champions League
The eleven of Inter: Dzeko preferred to Lukaku
No Romelu Lukaku in the Inter eleven. It is Dzeko who will evolve in point with Martinez in the traditional 3-5-2 of Inzaghi. Onana will be in goal with Acerbi, Bastoni and Darmian up front. In the middle, Barella and Brozovic are accompanied by Mkhitaryan since Calhanoglu is injured like Skriniar. Dimarco and Dumfries will be the pistons.
Benfica’s eleven: Ramos at the forefront of 4-2-3-1
Otamendi suspended and Bah injured, Roger Schmidt lost two important elements even before the match but the German remains faithful to his idea of play and keeps his 4-2-3-1 with Ramos in front and Aursnes, Rafa Silva and Joao Mario in support. Gilberto replaces Bah on the right of the defense while Morato integrates the hinge with Antonio Silva.
2-1 Tuchel faces Guardiola
These two coaches have already met three times on the bench. It is worth pointing out that in regulation time, Thomas Tuchel is undefeated against Pep Guardiola. Indeed, the Spaniard’s Bayern needed penalties to win against Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund in 2016 in the German Cup final (0-0, 4-3 tab). It is the only success of the Iberian against the German who twice brought down City with Chelsea. The first time in the CUP semi-finals (1-0) in 2021 and a few weeks later on the same but this time in the Champions League final where the Londoners got the better of the Mancunians.
The eleven of Bayern: Gnabry at the forefront, three Blues holders
Arrived on the Bayern bench two weeks earlier, Thomas Tuchel is expected this evening because under Julian Nagelsmann, the Munich residents had won their first eight games in this competition … Three Frenchmen are holders in what should be a 4-2-3- 1 with the right side Pavard-Coman and the presence of Upamecano in the axis of the defense. In front, it is Gnabry who will occupy the forefront of the attack with in particular Musiala and Sané in support since Muller starts on the bench. In the middle, Goretzka and Kimmich will form a classic and formidable pair.
City’s eleven: Haaland of course, four centrals in defense
No surprise in Pep Guardiola’s eleven. City should be articulated in 4-3-3 as is regularly the case. Four central defenders are lined up, Stones should keep the lane right with Aké on the left and an Akanji-Ruben Dias hinge. In the middle, the Rodri-Gundogan-De Bruyne trio is there and in front, in the absence of Foden, Bernardo Silva and Grealish will animate the sides with Haaland in front.
Benfica-Inter, it’s open
Since the start of the season, Benfica has established itself as one of the most attractive teams in Europe. First in their group ahead of PSG, the Portuguese erased Bruges in the round of 16 and faced Inter Milan in the quarter-finals. The Italians are back in Portugal a few weeks after qualifying for the round of 16 against FC Porto.
City-Bayern, the poster
It’s the big match of the evening between two huge favorites for the final victory. Guardiola’s City is chasing after this victory in the Champions League but it will be necessary to overcome the obstacle Bayern Munich before. As a reminder, the Germans eliminated PSG in the round of 16.
Hello everyone!
Welcome to Le Figaro to follow the start of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Two matches are on the program tonight with Manchester City – Bayern Munich and Benfica – Inter Milan. Kick off 9 p.m.