A draw (3-3) in Milan could not prevent the elimination, but somehow saved Benfica’s face and left the idea clear: the club from Luz could have done more in the draw against Inter, who played in the game was also the executioner of FC Porto. test. But there is no way to hide the reality of four games in a row without winning: FC Porto, Inter (twice) and Desp. Keys.
The eagles bid farewell to the millionaires’ league in the quarter-finals with a pie worth 72.6 million, a record for Luz’s teams in UEFA awards, beating last season’s 65.4 million. So the semi-finals have a Milan derby, Inter-AC Milan and a Real Madrid-Manchester City.
The fleeting and historyless passage of João Mário through Inter was clearly audible with Giuseppe Meazza, when the speaker announced the name of the midfielder in Benfica’s starting eleven, which had only one semi-new player: Aursnes instead of David Neres, who returned to the bench (until half-time).
With the comfort of two goals ahead, the Italians had to wait and see how the game would turn out. And it was a big mess, on Benfica’s side. In the 14th minute, Otamendi made it easy, Grimaldo slipped and Barella took advantage of a Lautaro Martínez assist to put Inter ahead. An early goal that put even more pressure on Roger Schmidt. Faced with the need to score (and not concede) at least three goals, the German opted to keep the same plan and team rather than stir the waters with Neres or Gonçalo Guedes.
Without the dynamism recognized throughout the season, the Benfica game lacked brains, living off some rip and low average speed. In the 23rd minute, João Mário failed to reach the pass of Gonçalo Ramos, who played his 100th match yesterday with an eagle on his chest. Shortly afterwards, a free kick won by the number 17 at the entrance to the area of the transalpines was celebrated by the Benfica fans as if it were a goal, after all it was a free kick on Grimaldo’s left foot.. but Onana saved it .
The two-way defense launched Lautaro towards the nervous Vlachodimos’ goal and the ball went into the goal, but the move would be canceled by a (gentle) push from the Argentinian to Gilberto’s back. A sign of encouragement for the red team who would tie the game soon after. Rafa went down the right aisle and put down Fredrik Aursnes, who appeared in the heart of the area to finish with a header.
a surprising move
A surprising substitution at Benfica on his return. If Neres’s arrival was expected, Gilberto’s departure was not. Schmidt kept the structure, but started playing with Aursnes at right back. The Norwegian asked for a penalty for touching Lautaro, but the referee and VAR saw nothing. Benfica can even complain about the proportion of the ball and who hit who first, but there is a lot of self-blame… and of course a lot of cynicism and a lot of talent on the side nerazzurri.
Inter reached the 2-1 in an excellent action. Dimarco combined very well with Mkhitaryan and assisted Lautaro for the timely and effective deflection. Again for the scoreboard, the Italian team would expand the scoreboard, after Simone Inzaghi (disputedly, he will be in charge while in the champions) to refresh the attack and wings. Dimarco (arguably the best in the field) served Joaquín Correa, who danced over Otamendi and Aursnes and shot Vlachodimos into the back of the net.
Benfica looked defeated and Schmidt went into management mode thinking about the duel with Estoril (Sunday), but the team still saved face with a draw that showed the tie was lost in Luz. Neres even hit the post before António Silva lowered the score – a well-deserved award for the young centre-back, who said before the game he was lucky enough to play in the Champions League at 19 years old – and Musa leveled the game . the last shot of the game.
Since the time of Jose Mourinho (he won the competition in 2009) that nerazzurri didn’t get that far in the Champions League. They now take on rival AC Milan, which even plays in the same stadium. One thing is certain: Italy has a representative in the final.
Source: DN
