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LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Serie A leader Inter Milan rallied from a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with already-eliminated Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, keeping last season’s runner-up with a chance to win its group. .
Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez (penalty) scored for Inter after João Mario’s first-half hat-trick for the hosts.
Inter, who had already secured their place in the round of 16, still struggle with Group D leaders Real Sociedad, who drew 0-0 with Salzburg.
Real Sociedad leads the standings with 11 points, followed by Inter (11), Salzburg (4) and Benfica (1).
Inter rested forwards Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram and many other regular starters, but Lautaro and Thuram came on in the second half and Thuram took the penalty which Sanchez converted.
Mario, who previously played for Inter, took advantage of a series of defensive errors to score in the 5th, 13th and 34th minutes, ahead of goalkeeper Emil Audero, who was making his Inter debut.
Benfica finished with 10 men after Antonio Silva sent off Nicolò Barella for a foul, and Barella came close to winning with a shot that hit the crossbar in stoppage time.
Benfica were eliminated by Inter in last season’s quarter-finals and lost 1-0 to the Nerazzurri in Milan last month.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi opted to rest his regulars between Serie A matches against Juventus (1-1 draw) and defending champions Napoli.
The group winner will be determined when Inter hosts Real Sociedad on Dec. 12.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews. com/hub/Soccer