Inter Milan go into their Champions League last-16 second-leg match against FC Porto with a slender 1-0 lead. On Tuesday night, the Nerazzurri could progress to the quarterfinals of the competition but need a win or draw to do so.
FC Porto will welcome Inter to the Estadio do Dragao for the second leg match. The Dragons have a 16W-1D-3L record at home. Losses have been few and far between this season for FC Porto and Inter Milan will have their work cut out for them.
Inter won the first leg at San Siro thanks to an 86th-minute goal from substitute Romelu Lukaku. The goal came just eight minutes after FC Porto’s Otavio was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Since losing to Inter, FC Porto have played three games, posting two wins and a defeat. Porto go into the match following a 3-2 win at home over the weekend against Estoril.
Inter’s form hasn’t been good since the win at San Siro versus Porto. The Nerazzurri won once and lost twice in their last three games. Inter fell 2-1 away to Spezia at the weekend in a shocking result.
Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi has two players on the injury list ahead of the match. Defender Milan Skriniar is a doubt due to physical discomfort. Joaquin Correa is unlikely to play following a thigh injury. Correa has been on the treatment table for some time.
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao also has two players receiving treatment ahead of the second-leg fixture in Portugal. Forward Evanilson has a thigh injury and won’t return until the end of March. Goalkeeper Francisco Meixedo has a ligament problem and won’t be available to Conceicao.
Inter Milan have not played well on the road this season. The Nerazzurri have a record of just 6W-3D-7L on the road, with 25 goals for and 29 against. They went unbeaten in two of their three matches in the group stage.
Despite their poor record on the road, the Inter have played well in the Champions League and have a one-goal advantage going into the second leg. These clubs met five times previously, with Inter going unbeaten in four of those matches.
The Nerazzurri should post a win on Tuesday night to progress to the quarterfinals of the competition. It should be another narrow win, with Inter getting through the round of 16 by a 1-0 goal over FC Porto.