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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Benfica 0-2 Inter Milan: Romelu Lukaku helps put Serie A giants on brink of Champions League semi-finals

Inter Milan are on the brink of the Champions League semi-finals after beating Benfica 2-0 in Lisbon.

The Serie A giants have not reached the final four since winning the competition in 2010 but are now in a commanding position.

Nicolo Barella headed home firmly at the back post in the 51st minute, rising unchallenged to get on the end of a superb cross from centre back Alessandro Bastoni, who was storming up the left side and delivered a pin-point ball.

Substitute Romelu Lukaku then converted an 82nd minute penalty after VAR referred a handball by Benfica skipper Joao Mario for review by English referee Michael Oliver, who gave the spot kick after looking at the video monitor on the side of the pitch.

The two goals hand Inter a major advantage for the return leg at San Siro next Wednesday, where they will be heavily fancied to progress to an all-Italian semi-final against either neighbours AC Milan or Napoli.

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