Inter Milan took a giant step towards the semi-finals of the Champions League with a hard-fought 2-0 win away at Benfica on Tuesday night.
The Nerazzurri’s victory was secured thanks to a stunning header from Nicolo Barella and a late penalty from Romelu Lukaku.
The first half was a closely contested affair, with both sides looking to seize the initiative.
However, it was the visitors who came closest to scoring when Rafa Silva was denied by a superb save from Inter Milan’s goalkeeper Andre Onana.
As the match progressed, Inter Milan’s defensive prowess began to shine through, and they took the lead on the hour mark when Nicolo Barella rose highest to head the ball past Benfica’s goalkeeper.
The Portuguese side pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but their efforts were met with resolute defending from Inter Milan. Benfica’s best chance came in the 75th minute when Denzel Dumfries produced a crucial block from close range to deny Rafa Silva.
The game was put beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when Romelu Lukaku scored from the spot after former Inter player Joao Mario handled the ball inside the box.
Premier League referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Inter Milan’s win puts them in a strong position to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League. They will be confident of finishing the job in the return leg at the San Siro on 19 April.
The victory was particularly sweet for Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Inter Milan from Chelsea. The Belgian striker has been in fine form for the Nerazzurri this season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions.
Speaking after the match, Inter Milan’s coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team’s defensive display.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we defended really well and took our chances when they came,” he said.
The result is a blow for Benfica, who were hoping to make a statement in this season’s Champions League.
They will need to produce something special in the second leg if they are to overturn the deficit and progress to the semi-finals.