Inter 3-3 Benfica (Agg. 5-3): Player ratings as Nerazzurri set up all-Milan semi-final
Inter set up a Champions League semi-final meeting with city rivals AC Milan after hold onto their aggregate lead over Benfica in the last eight on Wednesday night.
The Nerazzurri did the hard work by winning 2-0 in Portugal in the first leg and then added to their commanding advantage to three goals when Nicolo Barella struck early at San Siro.
Fredrik Aursnes headed Benfica a glimmer of hope shortly before half-time, before Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa piled on the goals for Inter in the second half. By that stage, the tie was long over and even a late flurry of Benfica goals from Antonio Silva and Petar Musa in the closing stage did little to dent the lead that Simone Inzaghi’s side had built up over both legs.
In the semi-finals, Inter and Milan will meet in European competition for the first time since the 2004/05 season, when flares infamously rained down on the San Siro pitch.
The Serie A giants being paired together at this stage also guarantees a first Italian finalist in the Champions League since Juventus lost to Real Madrid in 2017. It is the first time that either of the Milan clubs will have reached the final since Inter’s triumph in 2010.
The other semi-final will be contested between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Inter player ratings (3-5-2)
GK: Onana (5); CB: Darmian (6), CB: Acerbi (6), CB: Bastoni (7); RM: Dumfries (6), CM: Barella (7), CM: Brozovic (7), CM: Mkhitaryan (7), LM: Dimarco (8); ST: Dzeko (7), ST: Martinez (8)
Subs: Correa (7), Lukaku (5), Calhanoglu (6), D'Ambrosio (6), Gosens (6)
Benfica player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Vlachodimos (4); RB: Gilberto (6), CB: A. Silva (7), CB: Otamendi (6), LB: Grimaldo (8); CM: Luis (6), CM: Chiquinho (5); RM: R. Silva (7), AM: Mario (7), LM: Aursnes (7); ST: Ramos (6)
Subs: Neres (6), Guedes (5), Musa (7), Neves (6), Schjelderup (N/A)