Dominated in the game but ultra realistic, Inter Milan took a big step towards the last four of the Champions League by winning Tuesday in Lisbon on the lawn of Benfica (2-0) in the quarter-final first leg.
The Italians, who have not reached the semi-finals since 2010, the year of their last title in C1, brought victory to Portugal thanks to a goal from Nicolo Barella on their first real chance at the start of the second period. (1-0, 51st) then a contentious penalty converted by Romelu Lukaku (2-0, 82nd).
“I am very satisfied, we are closer to the semi-finals, but there is a return match which will be difficult”, savored the coach of Inter Milan, Simone Inzaghi at the end of the meeting.
After the first ten minutes where the Nerazzurri hampered the Lisbon team with high and aggressive pressing, the Eagles took control of the game. Florentino Luis tried his luck from afar, but his shot went wide (13′).
Almost in stride, Rafa Silva got the most frank opportunity of the first period. After a cross from Grimaldo, Federico Dimarco pushed the ball directly to the Portuguese attacking midfielder who fired a shot in the middle of the box, his attempt being too much on Inter goalkeeper André Onana to hit the mark (16th).
By gradually increasing the pace of the game, Benfica once once more lacked precision when Joao Mario did not target his shot (19th). Not very dangerous during the first period, Inter still sent a chill through the boiling Estadio da Luz. Francesco Acerbi tried a very heavy shot more than 30m from the opposing cages, the ball finishing just above the goals kept by Odisseas Vlachodimos (26th).
– Generous penalty –
Returning from the locker room, Benfica once once more set a steady pace without finding the fault in the very compact defense of the Milanese. In full swing, Roger Schmidt’s men were surprised as soon as Inter managed to get out.
On the left side, Alessandro Bastoni sent a long cross to the far post that Nicolo Barella, free of any marking, took over with an unstoppable uncrossed header (1-0, 51st).
Benfica tried to react, but neither Gonçalo Ramos nor Fredrik Aursnes managed to regain the ball following a mess in the middle of the area (56th).
Then Inter missed the goal of the break when Henrikh Mkhitaryan lost his duel once morest Vlachodimos (66th).
In turn, the Eagles once more harvested on a strike from Grimaldo once once more next door (73rd).
Having become more incisive in the last quarter of an hour, the Italians benefited from a generous penalty following recourse to the VAR. On a cross from Denzel Dumfries, Joao Mario stretched out his arms to protect his face, but the match referee, Englishman Michael Oliver, designated the penalty spot.
Romelu Lukaku transformed the offering with his left foot, while Vlachodimos started on the right side (2-0, 82nd).
“In the second half we put more pressure on but we conceded a goal,” Benfica Lisbon coach Roger Schmidt said following the game, adding that he believes the penalty once morest his team was “a bad decision by the referee”.
The Portuguese tried to reduce the score, but Gonçalo Ramos came up once morest André Onana who made a good save (90th + 4).
In a week in Italy, the task looks very complicated for Benfica: the Eagles have never beaten Inter Milan in European cups.
