45+1
21:49
Mid-term conclusion:
No goals have yet been scored in the quarter-final first leg between Benfica and Inter Milan. In terms of game play, this has been a very open game so far. Both sides had defining phases. The hosts went about their work a little more purposefully, providing the best goal scene of the encounter (16′). This was the only action that deserved the term goal chance. With their duel strength, the guests showed the necessary will and readiness for this quarter-final. In a duel between two teams at eye level, there is no question that there is a very tight box.
45+1
21:45
End of 1st half
43
21:44
Federico Dimarco moves into the sixteen with speed, fits flat in the middle. Edin Džeko and Lautaro Martínez are not well matched there. Both are already too far ahead and the latter misses the pass.
41
21:42
Federico Dimarco takes a corner on the right, drawing it towards goal with his left foot. There Odisseas Vlachodimos does not let his own captain stop him and steers the thing over the crossbar. The following corner is executed briefly and fizzles out.
39
21:40
After a change of game, Nicolò Barella moves into open space from the right, then plays the ball diagonally into the penalty area. At the level of the left post, Edin Džeko throws himself in vain for the ball.
37
21:39
Álex Grimaldo approaches a free kick on the left. As a result, Florentino tries to score in the penalty area, but is blocked.
35
21:38
In the further course, both sides work between the penalty areas to the best of their ability. The intensity remains high – but that primarily affects the duels and the running component.
33
21:34
After a nasty blunder by Gilberto, Lautaro Martínez takes the ball, storms towards the box and wants to put it through to Edin Džeko on the right. But that thwarts Morato.
30
21:32
After Inter had regained lost game shares in the meantime, the home side suddenly loosened up playfully and got into the box on the left via the game shift. Francesco Acerbi and Denzel Dumfries defend together there. Is there a hand involved? Álex Grimaldo complains almost on suspicion. But there is nothing worthwhile.
27
21:28
Federico Dimarco kicks a free kick for Lombards from the left. Francesco Acerbi and Denzel Dumfries try to get the ball in from the far post but fail to get the ball.
25
21:26
From about 25 meters and a half-left position, Francesco Acerbi simply hits it. The central defender’s left-footed shot isn’t so bad, it goes over the crossbar.
24
21:25
After a creative break, Inter takes the initiative again, lets itself be in the opposing half and waits patiently for a gap there. But it doesn’t open.
22
21:23
António Silva (SL Benfica) is shown a yellow card.
António Silva goes into the duel with Lautaro Martínez with the open sole, hardly hits the Argentine world champion, but still sees yellow. For the central defender, this is the first warning in the current competition.
21
21:23
Gradually we can call Benfica the team that defines the game. Roger Schmidt’s team lives up to the role of host and does more for the game.
20
21:21
The hosts make it into the box again. Gonçalo Ramos hangs up demanding for João Mário. Half right in the box, the Benfica captain tries to volley with his right foot. The ball bounces past the long corner.
18
21:19
Benfica also worked out more game shares in this phase. Overall, however, this is still a very balanced affair. Both teams are very focused.
16
21:17
First good goal scene! Álex Grimaldo crosses at full speed from the left. Federico Dimarco did not clear the ball sufficiently in Inter’s penalty area. The ball jumps to Rafa Silva, who immediately shoots from about nine meters in a half-left position. André Onana blocks the right-footed shot.
13.
21:15
Now the hosts get a little more activity in their own game. And then the time came for the Portuguese record champions to score their first goal. Florentino hits it from a half-left position. That seems very hasty, so there is little accuracy.
11.
21:11
Now Rafa Silva gets the first corner for Benfica against Francesco Acerbi. That’s one thing for Chiquinho. His cross does not evoke any danger.
9.
21:10
Then the Italians reappear in the box. In the second attempt, Federico Dimarco crosses from the left. Edin Džeko extends his cross with the back of his head. The ball bounces past the box on the right.
8th.
21:09
Then the guests work out the first corner kick of this encounter. On the left, Federico Dimarco briefly lists. Immediately afterwards Marcelo Brozović crosses with the right foot. The ball sails past friend and foe at the long corner.
7.
21:07
This is how duels determine what happens. So far we can’t serve with more at the Estádio da Luz. Although Inter then also approaches the penalty area, they lack the consistency to make it there as well.
5.
21:06
Then the hosts gradually push themselves forward and show themselves more extensively in the opponent’s half. But the Portuguese have not yet reached the sixteen.
3.
21:04
You carefully grope your way into the game on both sides. Hardly any space is allowed in midfield. For now, the guests go earlier, attacking Benfica in the opposing half.
20:52
The 1965 final was between Inter and Benfica (1-0). Despite the long international tradition on both sides, there were only two other games against each other. In 2004 they met in the round of 16 of the Europa League. After a 0-0 draw in Lisbon, Inter won the second leg 4-3 at home.
20:43
During the group phase there was no match against FC Bayern Munich, as there were two 0-2 defeats. But at least the Lombards left FC Barcelona behind, after a 1-0 at home, a 3-3 at the Camp Nou was enough. Viktoria Plzeň was under control and wintered second in the premier class. Inter already gained Portuguese experience in the round of 16. A single goal in the home game against FC Porto was enough to progress. The Milan club is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the seventh time, then reached the semi-finals in two cases and won the title in 2010. Incidentally, the Nerazzurri also won the European Cup twice in the 1960s (1964, 1965). They also won the UEFA Cup three times in the 1990s.
20:35
Inter have been without a win for six competitive games. The last three came at the beginning of March at home against Lecce (2-0). This was followed by an away bankruptcy in La Spezia (1:2), at least they didn’t lose the three guest games that followed. And a draw could already be a valuable result today. Nationally, the Scudetto is practically awarded to Napoli. Of course, the Nerazzurri also want to play in the Champions League next season. And the Italian runner-up is currently one point behind. One title has already been won this year – the Supercup against city rivals Milan (3:0). And as a cup defender you are in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, taking a 1-1 draw with you in the second leg against Juventus at home.
20:30
In the Champions League, the Portuguese record champions, who finished third last season, had to start in the third qualifying round. Against FC Midtjylland and then in the playoffs against Dinamo Kiev, they didn’t let anything go by with four wins. They also remained undefeated in the group stage, beating Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus Turin and Maccabi Haifa. Only in the games against PSG did you drop points (each 1:1). In the round of 16 against FC Brugge, Benfica confidently asserted themselves 2-0 and 5-1. The club is now in the quarter-finals of the premier class for the sixth time and would like to go beyond it for the first time. The big international successes were a long time ago. They won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962. After that, the club from Portugal’s capital played eight more European Cup finals and always drew the short straw.
20:23
This clash pits the Portuguese Primeira Liga leaders against those currently fifth in Italy’s Serie A. Although Benfica lost 2-1 at home to champions Porto on Friday, Benfica still have a seven-point lead over their rivals and closest pursuers. After all, such slip-ups were rare this season. Although they have already been eliminated from the national cup competitions, they only lost a game against Sporting Braga in early February – and that on penalties. The last league defeat before the encounter on Friday was against that club. This goes back to the end of December. Since then there has been a 2-2 draw against Sporting. Apart from all the results mentioned here so far, everything else has also been won internationally.
20:19
Compared to the last league game, Roger Schmidt sees himself forced to make two changes. Gilberto and Morato replaced Alexander Bah (knee injury) and Nicolás Otamendi (suspended) in the Lisbon starting XI today. Simone Inzaghi makes five impressive changes. Stefan de Vrij, Robin Gosens, Kristjan Asllani, Joaquín Correa and Romelu Lukaku can be found on the bench. In return, Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni, Marcelo Brozović, Edin Džeko and Lautaro Martínez slip into the Milan starting line-up.
20:05
Welcome to the Champions League! In the premier class, the quarter-finals are on the program this week. At this point we dedicate ourselves to the match between Benfica Lisbon and Inter Milan. The kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CEST.
