Inter draws with Benfica and will make a derby against rival Milan in the Champions League semifinals
Inter Milan are back in the UEFA Champions League semi-final after 13 years. The Italian team drew 3-3 with Benfica at home, at the San Siro Stadium, this Wednesday, advancing to face rival Milan. The first game ended with Inter winning 2-0 in Lisbon.
The semi-final will be a reprise of the historic meeting in 2003, when the two Italian rivals faced each other in a big showdown. UEFA has not yet confirmed the dates and times, but the San Siro will host the semi-final between Inter and Milan in the weeks of 9/10 and 16/17 May.
Inter won a place in the semifinals thanks to good results in the games
As much as the stage in the Italian Championship, Inter reaches the semifinal of the Champions League without being threatened in the 180 minutes against Benfica. But with a reactive game, the team controlled the advantage obtained in the first leg and only tied the match at San Siro after slowing down in the final minutes.
The 14 minutes of the first half saw Barella score the first goal of the match, with a beautiful left-handed finish from the right end of the area. Aursnes equalized for the Encarnados still in the initial stage with a headed goal.
In the second half, Lautaro deflected Dimarco’s low cross from the left to score and give Inter a place in the 19th minute. Joaquín Correa, who had just come on, doubled for Inter in the 32nd minute. But even with the classification almost guaranteed, the Italians slowed down and the Portuguese found space to score two goals. António Silva, with a header after a free kick from the right, scored the second for Benfica, and Musa, in the last shot of the match, decreed the final score at 3-3. But, even with the effort of the Portuguese team, it was not enough for the turnaround.
Milan and Inter: Confrontation of giants of Italian and international football
The rivalry between Milan and Internazionale is one of the greatest classics in world football. Both clubs have a glorious history of achievements, with numerous national and international titles. Among the national titles (“scudetto”), Juventus leads easily, having won 36 Italian championships. However, Milan and Internazionale are side by side, with 19 scudetti each. The dispute for hegemony at Milan is fierce and promises many emotions for the fans.
On the international scene, Milan and Inter are considered two of the biggest clubs in Italian football. Milan have an impressive record in the Champions League, having won the tournament 7 times. But Internazionale is not behind in achievements, they have 3 Champions League titles, including a historic treble in the 2009-2010 season, when they won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League.
As difficult as the last few years have been for clubs in European competition, Milan and Internazionale fans still have reason to be proud of their teams’ success stories. Therefore, the rivalry between the teams remains firm and promises to remain one of the most exciting in world football.