Inter survive Benfica surge to secure all-Milan Champions League semifinal
For a few minutes, as the game drew to a close, fans around the world got a glimpse at the real Benfica; the Benfica who lit up the Portuguese league all season and more than earned their spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Portuguese outfit scored twice in ten minutes to salvage a creditable draw with Inter Milan, the out-of-nowhere Italian challengers who thumped them 2-0 in the opening leg.
But while Benfica got their tie today, they lost the war.
Inter--scoring three times to win the tie 5-3 on aggregate--are going to the Champions League semifinals, where they'll meet a familiar foe: cross-town rivals AC Milan.
It's the first Milan derby in the Champions League since 2005. Considered one of the fiercest local rivalries in Europe, the Inter vs Milan game regularly sells out the San Siro and often creates literal sparks across the city.
After a rough season in Serie A, Inter would be forgiven for not expecting much from this Champions League tie against Benfica. But they were well worth their win over two games, delivering several beautiful goals and the kind of tightly-laced passing that's been missing from their domestic form. They looked confident, controlled and unwilling to sit back--and their first goal, a gorgeous one-two between Edin Dzeko and Nico Barella, showed their intentions early.
Inter will be the more confident of the two Milan teams heading into the semifinal. They've beaten Milan by an aggregate score of 4-0 in their last two meetings, with one coming in Serie A and another in the Coppa Italia. Inter's centrally-driven approach is guaranteed to create chances for them, but if AC Milan score first, the matchup could take a turn. The rossoneri have proven quite adept at protecting slim leads in the Champions League so far.
Inter Milan and AC Milan will face each other at the San Siro on Tuesday, May 9th. The winner of their two-legged tie will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the Champions League final on June 10th in Istanbul.
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