Champions League
Schmidt misses surprise with Benfica – Inter continue
Inter professional Joaquin Correa celebrates after scoring 3-1. photo
© Luca Bruno/AP/dpa
The Champions League season is over for Roger Schmidt and Benfica Lisbon. Instead, Inter Milan moves into the semi-finals – and there it comes to an explosive encounter.
Roger Schmidt missed a Champions League surprise with Benfica Lisbon. The German coach couldn’t get past the 3:3 (1:1) at Inter Milan with the Portuguese and thus missed the first semi-finals.
Nicolò Barella (14′), Lautaro Martínez (65′) and Joaquín Correa (78′) scored for the Italians, who won last week’s quarter-final first leg 2-0. Fredrik Aursnes (38′), António Silva (86′) and Petar Musa (90’+5′) scored the goals for Portugal’s record-breaking soccer champions. Inter now meets city rivals AC Milan in the semifinals.
Benfica started as Schmidt teams usually do: with aggressive pressing. But that didn’t pay off at first. On the contrary. Instead of taking an early lead, the Portuguese fell behind. Barella hooked in the box and then flicked the ball beautifully with his left into the top corner. But the guests didn’t give up.
From then on, Inter seemed a bit too passive and that was punished. Aursnes headed in a Rafa Silva cross. Benfica then pushed for the lead and deserved a penalty in the 54th minute. Instead, Martínez from close range and Correa made the decision with a flick. Late goals from Silva and Musa didn’t help Benfica either.