Inter Milan joined AC Milan in the Champions League semi-finals by validating its ticket to the San Siro on Wednesday with a draw with Benfica (3-3), which is enough after the option made to go to Lisbon (2-0).
The last Italian team to lift the trophy with two big ears, in 2010 Inter called themselves into the C1 quarter-finals for the first time since this last triumphant outing under Jose Mourinho’s orders.
To offer tifosi nerazzurri a new and exciting European derby against the Rossoneri, as in the semi-finals in 2003 and the quarter-finals in 2005, Inter were able to be particularly effective by scoring three of their three shots on goal in the match, before Nicolo Barella (14), Lautaro Martinez (65) and Joaquín Correa (78).
Benfica managed to equalize through Frederick Orsnes (38), but he never threatened Inter, and came back late at the end of the match, hoping to reverse the situation.
This victory underscores both sides of Simone Inzaghi’s side: erratic and extinct in the league, having previously lost eleven times in 30 games and picking up just one point in their last five, but solid and focused once they hit a bit. UEFA Champions League music sounds.
After getting out of a difficult group with Bayern Munich and Barcelona and overcoming the Portuguese double hurdle Porto Lisbon, you probably won’t want to leave the final to rival Milan.
As in the first leg in Lisbon, the puck Barella showed the way by opening the scoring after a perfect sequence of right corner, shot from the left. A goal scored by Martinez after a good work by Edin Dzeko, more solid in a duel with Benfica captain Nicolas Otamendi, suspended in the first leg.
Benfica tries to respond
This outright goal could have knocked the Portuguese out, against Inter they have never been defeated.
The leader of the Portuguese championship had the advantage of not separating. And after a dangerous free kick from Alex Grimaldo (30), the Norwegian Fredrik Orsnes beat Denzel Dumfries to equalize with a header (38).
Still two goals from a possible first half stretch, the Eagles’ Roger Schmidt tried to increase the pressure, but without seriousness.
And Inter took full advantage of the spaces that opened to close the debates, first with an acceleration from Federico Dimarco, which was concluded by Martinez (65), then a curling shot from Correa (78).
If the hope of playing a C1 semi-final for the first time since 1990 was over, Benfica didn’t want to stop there and at their most extreme managed to snatch an equalizer thanks to a header from Antonio Silva (86th) and a recovery from Petar Musa. (90 + v).
Not enough to spoil the San Siro party, which is about to boil again in a few weeks for the third 100% Milan opposition in the Champions League, two decades after the first two.
Both times the Rossoneri qualified. But Simone Inzaghi knows that the last two derbies were the Nerazzurri’s, in particular the clear victory for Inter (3-0) in the Italian Super Cup in January.
