Inter managed an extraordinary comeback from 3-0 down to a Joao Mario hat-trick to hold Benfica 3-3 with Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez.
The Nerazzurri had already booked their ticket to the knockouts, so could massively rotate the squad, including a debut for Emil Audero in goal. The Portuguese giants were rock bottom after losing all four games, with Alexander Bah, Goncalo Guedes and David Neres injured.
These sides met in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals, so it was surprising to see Benfica struggling so badly.
It was the worst possible start for the visitors, because within five minutes a ball was floated over the top and Casper Tengstedt nodded it down for Joao Mario to score against his old club. It was initially flagged offside, a decision overturned on VAR.
Benfica added a second when Kristjan Asllani was caught napping in the final third, then Yann Bisseck failed to clear the roll across from the right, allowing unmarked Joao Mario to turn in from 12 yards.
It was the first time in history that Inter had been 2-0 down in a Champions League or European Cup tie in the opening 15 minutes.
An Angel Di Maria half-volley flashed just past the far top corner and Marko Arnautovic failed to beat the on-rushing goalkeeper when sent clear by Davide Frattesi’s pass.
Instead, Joao Mario completed his hat-trick by bundling over the line from a yard with his stomach, as Francesco Acerbi blocked the first attempted cross and Bisseck did not intercept the second.
The only other player to put a Champions League hat-trick past Inter was Gareth Bale for Tottenham in October 2010.
Carlos Augusto fired over from a deflected Bisseck cross and then stung
Inter managed to get one back from a corner when the Bisseck header forced a one-handed save, Arnautovic tapping in at the back post. It was again originally flagged offside, corrected by VAR.
Simone Inzaghi clearly gave them a strong half-team talk, because the Nerazzurri clawed it back to 3-2 when Acerbi’s cross from the left found a wonderful Davide Frattesi volley off the inside of the left boot from 12 yards.
Bisseck flung himself in the way of the Tengstedt finish after a rapid counter-attack, but when Inzaghi introduced some of the big names, they made an immediate difference.
Nicolas Otamendi brought down Marcus Thuram within moments of coming off the bench and Alexis Sanchez converted the resulting penalty.
Audero flew to palm a Di Maria strike over the bar and Benfica went down to 10 men, as the referee changed his yellow card to a red after a VAR on-field review of Antonio Silva’s late lunge on Nicolò Barella.
Barella thought he’d won it for Inter in stoppages, but a ferocious strike from distance cannoned off the frame of the goal.
Real Sociedad drew 0-0 with RB Salzburg, so Inter must win the final match at San Siro, or the Spaniards will go through as leaders on overall goal difference.
Benfica 3-3 Inter
Joao Mario 5, 13, 34 (B), Arnautovic 51 (I), Frattesi 58 (I), Alexis Sanchez pen 72 (I)
Sent off: Antonio Silva 84 (B)
Player statistic
| João Mário (Assist: Casper Tengstedt) |
 |
7' | ||
| João Mário | |
13' | ||
| João Mário | |
34' |
| 53' | |
Marko Arnautovic | ||
| 58' | |
Davide Frattesi (Assist: Francesco Acerbi) | ||
| João Mário |  |
72' | ||
| 72' |  |
Alexis Sánchez | ||
| 76' | |
Juan Cuadrado | ||
| Morato | |
78' | ||
| António Silva |  |
86' |
Match statistic
