Inter’s Win Over Benfica Gives Serie A Champions League Chance. For the first time since 2017, Serie A will have a representation in the Champions League Final thanks to Inter’s victory against Benfica in the first leg of the quarterfinals. Even Roberto Mancini can be pleased with the Nerazzurri’s victory in Lisbon.
Do your superstitious rituals as you please, Inter supporters, but Tuesday’s excellent 2-0 victory in Lisbon might spell huge things for Italian football, taking it to heights we haven’t seen in a while. One year after Juventus’ final matchup with Real Madrid, which was infamously defeated 4-1 in Cardiff, Roma was the final Serie A team to go to the Champions League semifinals in 2018.
The winner of the match between Inter and Benfica will play either Milan or Napoli in the semifinals because all Serie A clubs are on the same side of the draw.
Inter’s Win Over Benfica Gives Serie A Champions League Chance
The Nerazzurri, led by Simone Inzaghi, defeated Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday, and will now have to defeat the Portuguese at the Stadio Meazza the following week.
Inter’s victory at the Stadium da Luz was fueled by goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Nicol Barella, and Andre Onana, but Inzaghi’s team will need more of the same next week to reclaim a berth among Europe’s top four clubs for the first time since José Mourinho’s treble-winning season in 2010.
The fact that two Azzurri helped Italy achieve such a significant victory on the European stage will also please Italy’s coach Roberto Mancini. Given that Inter, Napoli, and Milan do not start many Italians in their starting XIs, Mancio stated during the international break that just because three Serie A clubs are in the Champions League quarterfinals does not always indicate Italian football has overcome all of its issues.
While Bastoni will soon emerge as one of the captains of the Azzurri defense, Barella has already won the Europeans with the Italian national team.
Onana stated yesterday night that Inter should not believe the task is completely over. The Nerazzurri must stay focused and not throw away the sizable lead they gained last night against Benfica, who continues to be a difficult opponent.
They hold the power to decide the future of Serie A football in the Champions League. For the first time in six years, an Italian club will undoubtedly compete in the Istanbul Final on June 10 if they succeed in their mission the following week.
