Benfica 0-2 Inter: Barella nets, Lukaku scores pen to secure Inter first leg win
Inter Milan secured a superb 2-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final thanks to second half goals from Nico Barella and Romelu Lukaku.
2022/2023 UEFA Champions League
0 - 2
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
15' Rafa's shot stopped by Onana
19' Joao Mario's shot wide out
22' Yellow Card! António Silva booked
25' Acerbi's long shot over the bar
33' CLOSE! Grimaldo's long shot wide out
51' GOAL! Benfica 0-1 Inter (Barella)
66' Mkhitaryan's shot stopped
74' Barella's long shot wide out
82' Penalty Goal! Benfica 0-2 Inter (Lukaku)
Match Report
It was a brilliant away performance from Simone Inzaghi's side who nullified their in-form hosts during the first half.
They then went ahead after 51 minutes when Nico Barella headed home a fine cross from Alessandro Bastoni after the centre back burst forward.
An experienced Inter then continued to create chances against a below-par Benfica side, before substitute Lukaku then converted an 82nd minute penalty.
The Chelsea loanee's goal came after VAR referred a potential handball by Benfica skipper Joao Mario for review by English referee Michael Oliver, who gave the spot kick after looking at the video monitor on the side of the pitch.
Andre Onana pulled off a fine last-gasp save from Goncalo Ramos to give them a 2-0 lead ahead of the second leg at the San Siro next week.
Onana had earlier pulled off a good save from Rafa Silva when he saved with his chest at point-blank range but Inter largely dealt with Benfica's faltering attack.
The result has put the Italian side on course for a first last-four appearance in the competition since they won it under Jose Mourinho back in 2010.
They will now be heavily fancied to progress to an all-Italian semi-final against either neighbours AC Milan or Napoli - who play on Wednesday evening.
Line-ups
Benfica XI: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Alejandro Grimaldo, Mario, Fredrik Aursnes, Rafa, Chiquinho, Florentino, Gonçalo Ramos, Morato, António Silva
Subs: Guedes, Lucas Veríssimo, Petar Musa, Neres, Casper Tengstedt, Samuel Soares, Rafael Rodrigues, Andreas Schjelderup, Cher Ndour, João Tomé, André Gomes, João Neves
Inter XI: Darmian, Dzeko, Mkhitaryan, Acerbi, Brozovic, Dimarco, Barella, Dumfries, Onana, Lautaro, Bastoni
Subs: Handanovic, Alex Cordaz, Lukaku, De Vrij, D'Ambrosio, Correa, Gagliardini, Gosens, Bellanova, Mattia Zanotti, Kristjan Asllani, Valentín Carboni
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