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Romelu Lukaku scored an 82nd-minute penalty as Inter Milan put themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League after securing a deserved win away at Benfica.
In a tightly contested tie, Nicolo Barella’s downward header stunned the Portuguese league leaders and gave Inter a priceless advantage.
Benfica struggled to dictate play in front of their own fans as Inter produced a defensive masterclass in Lisbon.
Rafa Silva was denied by Andre Onana’s first-half save before Inter’s Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries produced a crucial block from close range as Benfica pushed for an equaliser.
The Italian visitors wrapped up a solid win when substitute Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, scored from the spot after former Inter player Joao Mario handled inside the box.
Premier League referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty after watching a replay of the incident on the pitchside monitor, with replays showing the ball struck the side of Mario’s head before hitting his hand.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will fancy their chances of finishing the job in front of their own fans in the return leg on 19 April (20:00 BST).
More to follow.
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Benfica
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Squad number99Player nameVlachodimos
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Squad number2Player nameGilberto
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Squad number66Player nameAntónio Silva
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Squad number91Player nameMorato
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Squad number3Player nameGrimaldo
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Squad number61Player nameFlorentino
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Squad number22Player nameChiquinho
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Squad number20Player nameJoão Mário
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Squad number27Player nameRafa
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Squad number8Player nameAursnes
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Squad number88Player nameGonçalo Ramos
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Squad number7Player nameDavid Neres
Inter Milan
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Squad number24Player nameOnana
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Squad number36Player nameDarmian
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Squad number15Player nameAcerbi
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Squad number95Player nameBastoni
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Squad number2Player nameDumfries
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Squad number23Player nameBarella
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Squad number77Player nameBrozovic
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Squad number22Player nameMkhitaryan
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Squad number32Player nameDimarco
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Squad number10Player nameLa MartÃnez
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Squad number9Player nameDzeko
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Squad number6Player namede Vrij
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Squad number8Player nameGosens
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Squad number11Player nameCorrea
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Squad number33Player nameD’Ambrosio
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Squad number90Player nameLukaku
Line-ups
Benfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 99Vlachodimos
- 2Moraes Júnior
- 66António SilvaBooked at 22mins
- 91Rodrigues da Silva
- 3Grimaldo
- 61Morris LuÃsSubstituted forNeres Camposat 64′minutes
- 22Lima Silva Machado
- 20João Mário
- 27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva
- 8Aursnes
- 88Gonçalo Ramos
Substitutes
- 4VerÃssimo da Silva
- 7Neres Campos
- 15Gonçalo Guedes
- 19Tengstedt
- 21Schjelderup
- 24Jumpe Soares
- 33Musa
- 65Vela Rodrigues
- 71Esteves Baptista
- 73Ndour
- 75Nogueira Gomes
- 87Gonçalves Neves
Inter Milan
Formation 3-5-2
- 24Onana
- 36Darmian
- 15Acerbi
- 95BastoniSubstituted forde Vrijat 90+1′minutes
- 2DumfriesSubstituted forD’Ambrosioat 87′minutes
- 23Barella
- 77BrozovicBooked at 50mins
- 22Mkhitaryan
- 32DimarcoSubstituted forGosensat 63′minutes
- 10La MartÃnezSubstituted forCorreaat 63′minutes
- 9DzekoBooked at 83minsSubstituted forLukakuat 63′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Handanovic
- 5Gagliardini
- 6de Vrij
- 8Gosens
- 11Correa
- 12Bellanova
- 14Asllani
- 21Cordaz
- 33D’Ambrosio
- 45Carboni
- 46Zanotti
- 90Lukaku
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 62,594
Live Text
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Match ends, Benfica 0, Inter Milan 2.
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Second Half ends, Benfica 0, Inter Milan 2.
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Attempt saved. Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by David Neres with a through ball.
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Substitution, Inter Milan. Stefan de Vrij replaces Alessandro Bastoni.
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Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Danilo D’Ambrosio.
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Corner, Benfica. Conceded by Matteo Darmian.
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Attempt blocked. Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Neres.
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Substitution, Inter Milan. Danilo D’Ambrosio replaces Denzel Dumfries.
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Attempt missed. Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by David Neres.
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Chiquinho (Benfica) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan).
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Edin Dzeko (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card.
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Goal! Benfica 0, Inter Milan 2. Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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VAR Decision: Penalty Inter Milan.
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Penalty conceded by João Mário (Benfica) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Attempt blocked. Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alessandro Bastoni with a cross.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Rafa (Benfica).
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Attempt missed. Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan following a fast break.
