Inter alienated Benfica with a terrible come-back and now… finals for first place and Europa!

Inter spoiled it in Benfica! The Portuguese were in front of the specter of their first victory in this year’s Champions League, after they led 3-0 at half-time against the… seconds that Simone Inzaghi brought down in the match. Despite this, the Nerazzurri’s sustained counter-attack in the second half managed to stay up and unbeaten in the group, taking the draw with an impressive 3-3.

At the same time, in the other group match Sociedad drew 0-0 with Salzburg and everything remained fluid and… unchanged!

This means that in the last game at “Giuseppe Meazza” the first place will be decided between Inter and Sociedad, with the Basques currently superior in goal average, while the 3rd place will also be decided in Austria, where Salzburg welcomes Benfica and he is looking for two results unlike the Portuguese who only want a win.

The 5th matchday:

Benfica-Inter 3-3

(5′, 12′, 34′ Joao Mario – 51′ Arnautovic, 58′ Fratezzi, 72′ pen. Sanchez)

Sociedad-Salzburg 0-0

The 6th matchday:

Salzburg-Benfica

Inter-Sociedad

The standings of the 4th group:

Benfica-Inter 3-3

Simone Inzaghi chose to field Inter with 10 substitutes, leaving only Acerbi in the starting line-up. Something that was seen inside the stadium, with the “nerazzurri” not having chemistry and stepping on it against the “thirsty” Benfica who were looking for their first three points. Joao Mario, in fact, looked like he wanted to take revenge against his former team, since by the 12th minute he had managed to score a double for the “eagles” 2-0. A little later and precisely in the 34th minute, João Mario scored again to achieve a hat-trick and write the emphatic 3-0 halftime score.

Everything seemed to indicate that Inter would suffer a heavy defeat at “Da Luz”, despite being indifferent. However, he got a reaction and made an improbable come-back. First, Arnautovic reduced the score in the 51st minute and seven minutes later Alexis Sanchez brought the Nerazzurri within striking distance. Cuadrado, Tiram and Barela then came on, Inter increased their pressure even more and finally found the equalizer in the 72nd minute with a penalty to make it 3-3!

Antonio Silva in the 86th minute, in fact, left Benfica with one less player, with the visitors having a goal in the 90th + 3rd minute with Barela, and in the end, although they chased the upset until the 9th minute of stoppage time, they settled for the point.

Sociedad-Salzburg 0-0

In ‘Anoeta’, the game throughout looked like an attacking monologue by Sociedad who had closed Salzburg in the half of the pitch and pressed them to find the goal, with the Austrians looking to counter-attack. Ojarthambal threatened in the 10th minute, while five minutes later Nene answered the phases for Salzburg.

Ojarthambal again, Zakarian, Turrientes made some more big moves but the goal for the home side did not come even though the finals were 10-2! One of the same in the second half, with the Basques dominating, Kubo getting into the equation as well, but the visitors’ keeper, Slager had a big night and kept… single-handedly the 0-0 until the final for Salzburg , which holds qualification for the knockouts of the Europa League in its hands.