Inter beat Benfica 2 - 0 in Lisbon!

Portugal, sweet Portugal. Less than a month ago, we departed from Porto having qualified from the round of 16. We didn't score that evening, but it was a brilliantly compact team performance. Now, we're departing from Lisbon with two goals to our name. We're only halfway, but Inter will return to Milano full of pride, something that all Nerazzurri fans - whether at the stadium or in front of the TV - will have felt this evening. This Champions League campaign continues to be special for this team.

There are so many things we could list from tonight's game. The defensive work carried out by Matteo Darmian, the technical and tactical know-how of Mkhitaryan and Brozovic, the trajectories taken by Alessandro Bastoni's beautiful balls in. And then, of course, that header from Nicolò Barella to give us the lead and Romelu Lukaku's composure to beat Vlachodimos from the spot. Not forgetting André Onana, who made a vital late stop to thwart the hosts. Quite simply, everyone was involved, from Acerbi, Dumfries, Dimarco, Dzeko and Lautaro through to the substitutes Gosens, Correa and D'Ambrosio, all of whom entered with exactly the right attitude.

Inter approached the match in excellent fashion, very much aware of Benfica's qualities and their record this season: Schmidt's team were unbeaten in the Champions League and had only suffered two defeats throughout the entire season. The Nerazzurri showed some very promising signs early on before slowing down somewhat, allowing the Portuguese side to get a foothold in the match and test Onana. Then came Inzaghi's men again: Brozovic dictated the pace of the game, Mkhitaryan was everywhere, Barella began to take centre stage. Indeed, the Inter No.23 started to rid himself of his marker, get on the ball and make things happen. Dzeko couldn't quite reach his first brilliant pass over the top, while Dimarco, after receiving the ball from his Italian compatriot, sent in a volleyed cross that was just behind Lautaro.

The first half finished goalless, but Benfica were no doubt worried because Inzaghi's men were full of running and timing their attacks very well. And then came Inter's reward six minutes into the second half. Bastoni produced a wonderful cross from the final third, and Barella was there waiting at the far post to nod into the net. The home fans fell silent as the Interisti at the stadium went into raptures.

The coaches looked to their benches. Inzaghi opted for a triple change, sending on Gosens, Correa and Lukaku in an attempt to really knock the stuffing out of the home side. Correa looked lively from the get-go and played in Mkhitaryan, who was denied by an outrushing Vlachodimos. Inter looked composed and focused against an outfit that, at this point, weren't causing too many problems. Barella fired just wide, while Bastoni then produced another magnificent ball for Dumfries, who was foiled by Vlachodimos and then Morato. A big chance had gone begging, but, shortly afterwards, Inter did manage to score a second. Dumfries was again involved as his cross came off Joao Mario's outstretched hand. After going over to the monitor, Oliver awarded the Nerazzurri a penalty. Lukaku stepped up to take the spot-kick and beat the goalkeeper, who guessed the right way but couldn't reach it. Perfectly placed. 2-0 almost became 3-0 as Gosens attempted to get on the end of Dumfries' cross at the back stick, and the fight continued right until the 94th minute. The game finished with a superb Onana stop to thwart Gonçalo Ramos, meaning Inter will have a two-goal advantage when the teams meet for the second leg at San Siro.

BENFICA 0-2 INTER

Goalscorer: 51' Barella (I), 83' Lukaku (I) pen.

BENFICA (4-2-3-1): 99 Vlachodimos; 2 Gilberto, 66 Antonio Silva, 91 Morato, 3 Grimaldo; 22 Chiquinho, 61 Florentino (7 Neres 64'); 27 Rafa Silva, 20 Joao Mario, 8 Aursnes; 88 Ramos. Substitutes: 24 Soares, 75 Gomes, 4 Verissimo, 15 Guedes, 19 Tengstedt, 21 Schjelderup, 33 Musa, 65 Rodrigues, 71 Joao Tomé, 73 N'Dour, 87 Joao Neves. Allenatore: Oscar Schmidt.

INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 36 Darmian, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni (6 De Vrij 91'); 2 Dumfries (33 D'Ambrosio 87'), 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (8 Gosens 62'); 9 Dzeko (90 Lukaku 62'), 10 Lautaro (11 Correa 62'). Substitutes: 1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 5 Gagliardini, 12 Bellanova, 14 Asllani, 45 Carboni, 46 Zanotti. Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Booked: Antonio Silva (B), Brozovic (I) Added time: 0' - 4'

Referee: Oliver (ENG) Assistants: Burt, Bennet (ENG). Fourth official: Brook (ENG). VAR: Van Boekel (NED). VAR assistant: Attwell (ENG).

ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION Benfica: Florentino, Joao Mario, Gonçalo Ramos. Inter: Bastoni, Dimarco, Lautaro.

SUSPENDED Benfica: Otamendi. Inter: -