2023-11-29 22:26:54
What a match Benfica and Inter Milan played in Lisbon! Six goals, one time for each team, controversies, VAR’s prominence, emotions until the end… and a 3-3 draw worthy of the Champions League. The local team took a three-goal lead in just 45 minutes, but the Italian team reacted in the second half and sealed the tie.
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, who had just added minutes in the Italian Derby against Juventus, entered in the second half to play as a winger on the right and generated constant danger in that sector. Everything indicates that the Achilles tendon injury is definitely behind us.
Joao Mario’s hat trick to excite Benfica
The home team dominated Inter, imposed conditions and scored three goals before the break. The visitor, who started with a list of regular substitutes, suffered in defense and was subdued. Very weak first half for the Nerazzurri. A hat-trick by Joao Mario reflected Benfica’s vast superiority on the scoreboard.
But everything was going to change when he returned from the locker room. Inter, without changes, looked for a comeback from the judge’s whistle and in a short time was one goal away from the tie. Marko Arnautović in the 51st minute and Davide Frattesi in the 58th minute scored for the partial 3-2. From there, it was a back-and-forth game, with the Italians looking for equality and the Portuguese hoping to score a counterattack.
Cuadrado enters and Sánchez seals the tie
In blow by blow, the one who took advantage was Inter. With 20 minutes left, shortly after Juan Guillermo Cuadrado entered, the referee signaled a penalty in favor of the visitor for a doubtful foul by Otamendi on Thuram. Alexis Sánchez did not forgive from the white spot and established the final 3-3.
In the end, options for both teams and one sent off. Audero saved Inter after a shot by Di María, the judge showed the red card to António Silva (after reviewing the VAR) and in the 90+5 minute, a shot by Nicolò Barella hit the crossbar. It was the winning goal for Simone Inzaghi’s team.
The exciting 3-3 result leaves Inter sharing the top of Group D with Real Sociedad, a rival with whom they will define the lead on the last date. Benfica, no longer able to qualify for the round of 16, will look for a miracle against Salzburg to go to the Europa League.
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Changes
Marcus Thuram (67′, Marko Arnautovic), Juan Cuadrado (67′, Matteo Darmian), Nicolò Barella (67′, Davy Klaassen), Federico Dimarco (76′, Stefan de Vrij), Lautaro Martínez (78′, Alexis Sánchez), Petar Musa (78′, Casper Tengstedt), Orkun Kökçü (78′, Florentino), Tomas Araujo (88′, Ángel Di María), Chiquinho (98′, João Mário), Tiago Gouveia (98′, Rafa)
Goals
1-0, 4′: João Mario2-0, 12′: João Mario3-0, 33′: João Mario3-1, 50′: Arnautovic3-2, 57′: Davide Frattesi3-3, 71′: Alexis
Cards
Referee: Andris Treimanis
Arbitro VAR: Ivan Bebek, Bastian Dankert
João Mario (71′, Yellow) Square (75′, Yellow) Morato (77′, Yellow) Antonio Tavares Da Sila (85′,Roja) Schmidt (89′, Yellow)
Classification Group D PT PJ PG PE PP 1
11
5
3
2
0
2
11
5
3
2
0
3
4
5
1
1
3
4
1
5 0 1 4 Group D PT PJ PG PE PP
11
5
3
2
0
2
11
5
3
2
0
3
4
5
1
1
3
4
1
5
0
1
4
1701299879
#Madness #UCL #Cuadrado #present #exciting #Inter #draw