Inter brush aside Benfica to grab first-leg advantage

Inter put up a professional performance against rivals Benfica, beating them 2-0 to grab a crucial first-leg advantage. 

The Eagles sought to continue their impressive Champions League campaign when they hosted the Nerazzurri at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica for the first-leg of their quarter-final clash; however, their visitors proved too strong, taking a two-goal advantage into the return leg. 

Inter were the first of the three Serie A teams in this round of the competition to step onto the field, and they put up a typical Italian performance against their Portuguese adversaries.

The game started slowly, with the hosts enjoying early possession, but Inter soon played their way into dominance and started to threaten Odysseas Vlachodimos's goal. 

The first-half was a thoroughly enjoyable end-to-end affair, with both teams exchanging periods of dominance, chances, and half chances; however, neither team could find the opener in the initial 45. 

The hosts started the second-half with a pop, taking the game to their opposition, but after a devastating counter-attacking move, Inter found the lead against the run of play.

Alessandro Bastoni broke into the left half-space to deliver a perfectly weighted cross, which was headed into the bottom left corner by Nicolo Barella in the 51st minute.

Benfica turned up the heat after conceding, and went close to scoring on multiple occasions, but were let down by poor finishing.  

The game maintained an end-to-end feel to it, with Inter enjoying the bulk of the ball and looking more threatening.

They made it two in the 82nd minute when Lukaku fired in a penalty following a handball by Joao Mario that impeded Denzel Dumfries's cross.  

Benfica had a chance to reduce the deficit late in the game ahead of the second-leg, however, they could not beat Andre Onana.

Inter will host the second-leg at the Guiseppe Meazza next week and will be looking to finish the job they started today.