Romelu Lukaku scored the goal that sealed victory to help Inter Milan produce one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Champions League. Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku scored second-half goals in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light, putting Italy in an excellent position to reach the European competition’s semi-finals for the first time in more than a decade. Benfica controlled the pace of the game as it sought to win five straight Champions League games for the first time since 1990, but it was Inter who struck in the 51st minute with a header by Barella after a long ball into the area by Alessandro Bastoni.
Inter’s lead was extended in the 82nd minute when substitute Lukaku converted a penalty kick awarded by video review for a handball by former Inter player Joao Mario inside the box. Meanwhile, it was Benfica’s first Champions League defeat in 13 matches this season, after they began the league in the third qualifying round and emerged as one of the competition’s biggest surprises by defeating Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
Inter had not won in six matches in all competitions, with their last triumph coming in March against Lecce in the Italian league. Benfica had just lost to rivals Porto in the Portuguese league but had won 13 of their previous 15 matches in all competitions. The victor of the Inter-Benfica series will face either AC Milan or Napoli in the semi-finals. The second leg will be held in Milan on April 19 at 8 p.m. Benfica plays Chaves in the league on Saturday at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Inter Milan will play Monza on Saturday at 7.45 p.m.
For more football scores, click here
