Inter Milan discover themselves on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League semifinals, a feat not achieved since their triumph as European champions 13 years in the past.
However, they’re presently going through a problem on account of their lack of goal-scoring proficiency, which can probably impede their probabilities of success in opposition to Benfica of their upcoming fixture.
Last week’s very good 2-0 win in Lisbon provides Inter a fantastic likelihood of establishing a blockbuster all-Italian last-four tie with both Napoli or native rivals AC Milan.
Both are groups Inter have had the higher of this season, and Simone Inzaghi’s aspect have shone most of the time within the headline matches.
But judging by their home kind, Inter needs to be nowhere close to the semis, not to mention have any hopes of constructing it by way of to the ultimate in June.
Inter have misplaced greater than a 3rd of their Serie fixtures this season – Saturday’s 1-0 residence defeat to Monza their eleventh in 30 video games – and the win at Benfica is the one victory of their final eight matches.
Having taken the title race right down to the ultimate day final season Inter sit exterior the highest 4, a whopping 24 factors behind league leaders Napoli and two behind fourth-placed AC Milan.
Worse, they’ve misplaced their final three residence matches with out scoring as previously prolific forwards have collectively misplaced their taking pictures boots.
Inter are averaging lower than a purpose a sport within the second half of the league season, and whereas Lautaro Martinez hasn’t scored since March 5 in his staff’s final Serie A win, over Lecce, the numbers for the Argentine’s attacking companions are even worse.
Edin Dzeko has been firing blanks since netting within the Super Cup in opposition to Milan on Jan. 18 and Joaquin Correa’s drought extends to late October.
Romelu Lukaku in the meantime has had a nightmare return to Inter and can nearly definitely be despatched again to Chelsea in the summertime after failing to rediscover the shape which made him a Scudetto winner and idol two seasons in the past.
Not scoring sufficient
Belgium ahead has scored simply thrice from open play all season, his different 4 objectives in all competitions coming from the penalty spot.
“Since the restart, we’ve not been at our normal level. For 16 months we were the best attack in the country and now we’re not scoring enough,” mentioned Inzaghi on Saturday.
The atrocious kind and the specter of not reaching subsequent season’s Champions League for a membership whose funds are in disarray has left Inzaghi’s place at Inter in critical doubt.
Yet, there is perhaps a case to be made that Inter can be favorites to achieve the ultimate, assuming they do not undergo what can be a surprising collapse on Wednesday night time.
Inter have been the primary Italian staff to beat Napoli this season within the first spherical of fixtures after the World Cup, and have been by far and away the higher staff on the day.
Meanwhile, Inter have shone in latest derbies with Milan, smashing their native rivals 3-0 within the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia earlier than then profitable a league derby in early February.
There’s little doubt that Inzaghi is an adept cup supervisor. Under him, Inter received final 12 months’s Italian Cup and Super Cup earlier than retaining the latter in January.
This 12 months, his staff are within the semi-finals of the Italian Cup and have repeatedly proven up when it issues within the Champions League, getting out of a bunch that contained Bayern Munich and Barcelona and never conceding a purpose in three knockout matches.
With a two-goal cushion and acquainted rivals on the horizon, Inter might but have an opportunity to make historical past.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
