Inter secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Feyenoord at De Kuip in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. Goals from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez ensured Simone Inzaghi’s side took a crucial advantage back to San Siro, as the Dutch champions struggled to break down the Serie A leaders.
The Italian champions now know a solid defensive performance will be enough to secure their passage to the quarter-finals. Feyenoord, meanwhile, must produce a special performance in Milan to overturn the deficit and keep their European dream alive.
As It Happened
Feyenoord, fresh from their triumph over AC Milan in the playoff round, started brightly, with Ibrahim Osman and Anis Hadj Moussa looking dangerous on the flanks. However, Inter’s defensive solidity kept the hosts at bay, limiting them to speculative efforts in the early exchanges.
Inter’s first meaningful attack produced the opener in the 38th minute. Denzel Dumfries found space on the right and played a precise ball back to Nicolò Barella, whose first-time cross picked out Thuram. The French forward met it with a spectacular outside-of-the-boot volley, leaving Timon Wellenreuther with no chance.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe visitors nearly doubled their lead before the break, as Martínez forced a fine save from Wellenreuther with a curling effort from the edge of the box. The Argentine, however, would not be denied for long.
In the 50th minute, Piotr Zielinski’s shot was blocked inside the Feyenoord area, but the ball fell kindly to Martínez, who rifled a clinical finish into the top-right corner. In doing so, he became Inter’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League.
Embed from Getty ImagesFeyenoord responded with renewed urgency, with Ayase Ueda introduced to add firepower in attack. Their best chance came in the 80th minute when Dávid Hancko rose highest to meet Hadj Moussa’s corner, but his header drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
There was drama in the 65th minute, as Inter were awarded a penalty following a VAR review on Jeyland Mitchell’s challenge on Thuram. However, Wellenreuther produced a superb save to deny Zielinski from the spot, keeping the scoreline at 2-0.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite late pressure from the hosts, Inter’s disciplined backline, marshalled by Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij, ensured a clean sheet and a valuable away victory.
With a comfortable buffer in place for next week’s return leg at San Siro, Inter can now return their attention to Serie A, as they prepare to face struggling Monza on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Feyenoord have a week’s rest before the second, crucial leg.
The lineups
FEY: Wellenreuther; Mitchell, Beelen, Hancko, Bueno; Smal, Moder; Hadj Moussa, Paixao, Osman; Carranza.
INT: Martínez; Pavard, De Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Zielinski, Bastoni; Martinez, Thuram.