Javiet Zanetti is expecting a great match between historical giants of European football Inter Milan and Benfica this evening.
The Nerazzurri Vice-President gave his thoughts to UEFA TV, via FCInterNews, ahead of the Champions League group stage clash.
Inter and Benfica have become very familiar with the sight of each other in recent weeks.
The Nerazzurri and the Aguias have faced off three times already in 2023. They played a two-legged quarterfinal tie in last season’s Champions League, and wound up in the same group this time around.
But the history between the two sides goes back much further than that.
Both Inter and Benfica were regulars in the European Cup final in the 1960s.
Each side won it on two occasions that decade.
And the Nerazzurri had in fact beaten the Lisbon giants in the final of the 1965 edition of the competition.
Therefore, there is always naturally a sense of occasion when the two teams go head-to-head.
Regardless of the exact circumstances that the sides find themselves in, the match will always have a certain iconic aura to it.
Zanetti: Inter & Benfica A Clash Of History & Tradition
Inter Vice-President Zanetti gave his thoughts ahead of this evening’s match.
“It will be a match between two teams with a lot of history and tradition,” he said.
“I’m expecting it to be a really enjoyable, exciting match,” the Nerazzurri Vice-President added.
Zanetti also noted that “I hope that there will be a great atmosphere created by the stadium.”
“This can be a magical stadium when it’s full,” he said of the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
Inter have already secured their spot in the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, Benfica can’t possibly reach the round of sixteen.
However, the Nerazzurri will still have top spot in the group to fight for this evening.
Real Sociedad are also vying for top. La Real are level on points with Inter.
And Benfica, for their part, still have every chance of dropping down into the Europa League ahead of Red Bull Salzburg.
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