LISBON: Italy’s Internazionale put themselves in a commanding position to reach the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Benfica in their quarter-final opener.

Nicolo Barella (51 minutes) and Romelu Lukaku, with an 82nd-minute penalty, scored the goals in Lisbon.

It was the cliched tale of two halves, with the second bursting into life after a quiet first with few openings.

Benfica had significant chances of their own but paid a penalty for wasteful finishing by Rafa Silva, Álex Grimaldo and young striker Gonçalo Ramos in the closing stages.

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