Inter legend Giuseppe Bergomi has warned Nerazzurri fans to be cautious ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie with Portuguese champions Porto. The first of the two legs will be played at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 22.
Although many celebrated the draw as Inter receiving one of the kinder opponents in the hat, Porto have more than enough quality to pose problems for Simone Inzaghi’s side.
“This is the toughest one of all the draws,” Bergomi told SempreInter.com. “I’ll explain: looking at it you’ll say ‘last year we played on equal terms with Liverpool, we played two great matches, this year we can do it.
“This is true, but watch out! Porto have Mehdi Taremi who is the player that creates the most chances out of all players in the Champions League as well as making the entire team play well.
“There are quick players like Evanilson and Galeno. Otavio and Eustaquio get stuck in well, a tall defence. They do have their points of weakness too, they are narrow on the pitch and so Inter can hurt them with a fifth man.
“They risk a lot when they attack too but the message that has to come across is that Porto is a strong team. It wont be easy, in the last few years they have eliminated Juventus, AC Milan and AS Roma. So Inter can go past them but it will be tough.”
Daring to look beyond Porto, Bergomi believes that Inter have the strength to go deep into the tournament should they overcome their last-16 opponents.
“Remember, one of Bayern Munich and PSG will be eliminated,” Bergomi said. “The same is true of Liverpool and Real Madrid. It is possible to think that something interesting can be done, as the other teams are also imperfect teams.
“This is a knockout competition and a tournament that doesn’t always reward the strongest teams in it. Going past this round would make things very interesting….
“Simone has always prepared his teams well for knockout games. As a fan that is what I wish, for but honestly it seems a bit utopian to think about winning the Champions League but then again never say never.”
