Inter Milan secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in style against AS Monaco, thanks to a hat trick from Lautaro Martínez. A damaging first 16 minutes saw the Ligue Un side concede twice as Christian Mawissa was sent off.
The Nerazzuri came into their final fixture of the league phase in a strong position, needing just a draw to confirm their place in the knockouts. Monaco’s 1-0 victory against Aston Villa put them in good standing to make their way into the qualifying stage, but only a victory would give them a chance of automatic qualification to the last 16 – they fell far short, and will go into the playoffs.
As it happened
Inter Milan got off to the best possible start when Marcus Thuram was fouled by former Chelsea loanee Dennis Zakaria after capitalising on a loose ball. Lautaro Martínez was handed the responsibility to take the penalty and powerfully dispatched it past Radosław Majecki.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter more warning signs from Inter Milan’s wingbacks Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries combining to test Majecki, things went from bad to worse for Monaco. Thuram was played in on goal before being pulled down by Christian Mawissa, swiftly given his marching orders by the referee just 12 minutes in. A long night was ahead for the away side.
Not too soon after the ball was once again in the Monaco net. Dimarco’s cross was poorly dealt with by Majecki who punched the ball only as far as Nicolo Barella. He had plenty of time to lay it off to Martínez who once again found the back of the net. 2-0 down with little over 15 minutes on the clock, it had rapidly became a case of damage limitation for Monaco.
AS Monaco boss Adi Hütter had to move fast and take off an attacker in the shape of Maghnes Akliouche for Caio Henrique in attempt to try and restore some balance to the side following Mawissa’s red card. The Nerazzuri knew the match was already all but over in their favour, the San Siro was bouncing.
It very easily could have been 3-0 within 20 minutes after a brilliant combination saw Martínez play through Dimarco, but his effort went over the bar. The man advantage for Inter was making things extremely difficult for Monaco. Inzaghi’s Inter were the first to every loose ball and with them being so well coached out-of-possession, even if Monaco had 11 men it still would have been a challenge to break them down.
Monaco had slightly more success in getting forward at the start of the second half – but the final ball let them down. On the hour mark, Inter deemed it safe to take off some of their more important with Bastoni, Barella and Thuram all replaced.
Embed from Getty ImagesShortly after, Martínez wrapped up proceedings by completing his hattrick. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was given all the time in the world as he ran with the ball from his own half before shooting just outside the Monaco box – Majecki parried his effort towards the Argentine, who pounced to get the match ball.
It so easily could have been four for Martínez after Dumfries flashed a dangerous ball into the box, but the Argentine was just not able to get enough on the end of Dumfries’ cross. That would be Martínez’s final action of the match as he was replaced by Giacomo De Pieri, with the San Siro applauding their captain off the pitch.
Kristjan Assllani was booked for a foul on the halfway line that unfortunately saw Monaco defender Jordan Teze stretchered off the pitch, leaving the Ligue Un outfit to see out the rest of the game with just nine men.
It was a devastating performance from Inter Milan with the game over within the first 16 minutes, with Monaco a man and two goals down so early on. Inter finish the league phase in 4th meaning their job is done until the last 16 takes place, after 8 games they have actually conceded just once which was in their last minute 1-0 defeat away at Bayer Leverkusen. Whoever faces them next will have a tough task on their hands.
While it was not a great day for Monaco, they will take some encouragement from their competition so far with victories against the likes of Barcelona and Aston Villa. They will find out in the draw on Friday morning who they will be competing with for a place in the knockouts.
The lineups
INT: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martínez
ASM: Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Mawissa; Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche, Golovin, Minamino; Embolo
