Inter’s season hinges on clash with holders Porto

INTER MILAN and Porto have had an extra week to prepare for tonight’s Champions League knockout round second leg but neither has used it well.

The first game ended 1-1 in Portugal and the return was held over as Inter's city neighbours AC Milan, who share the San Siro stadium, were also drawn at home for their second-leg match.

The additional preparation has hardly helped Champions League holders Porto, whose coach Jose Couceiro must get his players over a 4-0 defeat by Nacional Madeira, their worst home loss for 30 years.

Inter battled to a 1-1 draw at Lazio on Saturday but were unimpressive, only getting back into the game after the Rome side were reduced to 10 men.

"We will definitely have to play better than at Lazio," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

"It will have to be a different Inter for what is a vitally important game for us."

Inter's season hangs on this match. They are out of the Serie A title race, 16 points behind leaders AC Milan, but have reserved their best displays for Europe.

"They are different matches in the Champions League and this is like a final," midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron said.

"We can't have a repeat of our performance at Lazio though it would be suicide if we allow Porto to run the match," he added.

Form is not the only worry for Mancini, with Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba and left-back Giuseppe Favalli suspended.

Mancini is hoping Marco Materazzi recovers from a nasty cut received on Saturday to line up alongside Sinisa Mihajlovic in the centre of defence.

Inter also have worries in attack with Nigerian Obafemi Martins and Italy's Christian Vieri struggling for fitness and Uruguay's Alvaro Recoba sidelined.

Friday's defeat knocked Porto off the top of the table and they are three points behind Benfica.

"We have to lift our heads and fight to get past this moment.

Facing Inter I hope Porto is able to react and get a good result," said Couceiro, Porto's third coach this season.

(Probable teams)

INTER MILAN: Toldo; Ze Maria, Mihajlovic, Materazzi, Zanetti; Belozoglu, Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Adriano, Martins (or Vieri).

PORTO: Baia; Seitaridis, Costa, Costa, Valente, Meireles, Ribeiro, Costinha, Diego, Quaresma, McCarthy.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).