Inter dominate in Champions League quarter-finals

Benfica was slightly better when holding the ball 58% of the time, finishing 12 times and creating four dangerous opportunities, but Inter won by two goals by taking advantage of better opportunities. Midfielder Nicolo Barella opened the scoring early in the second half, before Lukaku scored a penalty to give Inter a two-goal lead before returning to Milan for the second leg.

Coach Roger Schmidt uses a squad with an average age of only 23, compared to the aged Inter at 29. Experience makes the difference in the game, when Inter is more effective in defense and attack. In the 51st minute, centre-back Alessandro Bastoni rose and crossed for Barella to hit the ground to the far corner to open the scoring. The lowest scorer on the field with only 1.72 m, but finished in a convenient position and was not tight.

This goal is also the first dangerous opportunity, making the game more interesting. Five minutes later, the homeowner almost responded when four Benfica players had the opportunity to finish in the 5.5m area but could not take advantage.

Benfica proved inexperienced but the player who made the biggest mistake was 30-year-old midfielder Joao Mario. In the 78th minute, right-back Denzel Dumfries crossed in and Mario jumped up and raised his hand to block the ball. Referee Michael Oliver was consulted by VAR, to review the situation on the screen, before blowing the penalty for the away team. Lukaku did not miss the opportunity, shot 11m into the lower right corner to make the score 2-0.

Inter cut the circuit for six games without winning in all competitions, to create a big advantage before the second leg a week later. Since the away goals rule no longer applies in the Champions League, Inter will enter the semi-finals if they do not lose by more than one goal in Giuseppe Meazza. If they lose by two goals, they will go into extra time and maybe shoot out against Benfica.

Inter face the opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010, when they won. 20 years ago, they also reached the semi-finals and met Milan, which could happen again this year.

Benfica: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Silva, Morato, Grimaldo; Florentino (Neres 64), Chiquinho; Mario, Rafa, Aursnes; Ramos.

Inter: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni (De Vrij 81); Dumfries (D'Ambrosio 87), Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco (Gosens 63); Martinez (Correa 63), Dzeko (Lukaku 63).