UCL 2022-23: Inter Milan vs Porto: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The Nerazzurri hosts 2004 Champions League winners in the Round of 16 match of the competition,

Inter Milan have recently found the form and consistency to keep up with their Serie A league leaders Napoli who courtesy of their great start at the beginning of the season, have managed a 15-point lead at the top of the Italian League table. Inter has been the only side who've been able to match their run of form, winning three out of the last four matches in the league, and in second position after Napoli. They managed to qualify as runners-up to Bayern Munich, in a group also consisting of five-time winners Barcelona, and Victoria Plzen as they now face Porto. They'll be hoping to go through to the last eight of the UCL for the first time, since the 2010 run, when they ended up winning the competition under Jose Mourinho.

Visiting manager Sergio Conceicao returns to the ground where he once donned the colours of Inter in his playing days, but emotions will have to take a back seat as he attempts orchestra a second famous Porto win at the San Siro, since 1996, when an AC Milan side consisting of George Weah, Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini, ended up losing 3-2 to Porto. The two-time European champions will be hoping to put a dent in Inter's UCL aspirations, similar to what they did in the group stage, finishing as runners-up in a Group consisting of Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Brugge.

Kick-off

Tuesday: 21-02-2023, 08:00 pm (GMT)

Wednesday: 22-02-2023, 01:30 am (IST)

Inter Milan form (all competition): W-D-W-W-W

Porto form (all competition): W-W-W-W-W

Players to watch out

Inter Milan: Lautaro Martinez

Argentina forward seems to have found their groove back, which was missing earlier in the season and his team's results reflected this. His inconsistency was also down to recovery from his ankle injury, which he played through with injections during the World Cup with Argentina. However, he's recovered well since and has contributed with eight goals and an assist (a total of 13 goals and three assists in the Serie A), this season, post the World Cup in December. He'll have to shoulder the burden of Inter Milan's goals if they move on to the quarter-final stage of the UCL after they beat Porto.

Porto: Mehdi Taremi

The Iranian forward has led Porto's forward line with remarkable consistency. The numbers speak for themselves, this season as Taremi has 11 goals this season in Liga Portugal 2022-23. He' also averages a league-high 1.3 shots on target per game, with a 19% conversion rate. His all-around game besides his goal-scoring touch has been a key to his success in the Porto which has been flying high in this year's UCL campaign, where already boasts a record of 5 goals and two assists in five group stage matches. He'll be the one to watch out for sure.

Match Facts

• During the last 5 meetings, Inter Milano has won 3 times, there has been 1 draw while FC Porto has won 1 time. The goal difference is 9-7 for Inter.

• Inter Milano haven't lost in their last 5 games & have kept a clean sheet in three matches in a row.

• Porto's record away from home isn't sparkling but it's entirely shabby either. They've won 2, lost 2, and drawn 1 of the last five UCL matches while travelling away from home.

• Porto has a winning streak of 10 matches & hasn't lost in their last 22 games.

Head-to-Head Stats

Matches: 5

Inter Milan: 3

Porto: 1

Draw: 1

Predicted lineups

Inter Milan predicted lineup (3-5-2):

Onana; Skriniar, Bastoni, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Brozovic, Dimarco; Lukaku, Martinez

Porto predicted lineup (4-4-2):

Costa; Mario, Pepe, Carmo, Sanusi; Franco, Eustaquio, Grujic, Pepe; Taremi, Martinez

Match Prediction

Despite the great form, Porto finds itself in, a travelling side to the San Siro rarely finds joy in a positive result, let alone achieve a victory. Inter are really strong at home and have twelve out of the last thirteen games. They should just have enough quality on the night to edge through to a victory. Lautaro and Dzeko can be expected to be on the clean sheet, while Toni Martinez and Mehdi Taremi are the dangermen for Porto.

Prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Porto

Telecast

India: Sony Ten Network & SonyLIV

USA: CBS Sports.

UK: BT Sport.

Nigeria: SuperSport