Internazionale held a 1-0 lead as they headed to Iberia on Wednesday, with Marko Arnautović handing last season’s UEFA Champions League finalists the upper hand ahead of this round-of-sixteen second leg fixture.
ATM: Oblak; Hermoso, Witsel, Savic; Lino, Koke, De Paul, Llorente, Molina; Griezmann, Morata
INT: Sommer; Bastoni, de Vrij, Pavard; Dimarco, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Barella, Dumfries; Thuram, Martínez
Having carried the advantage into this dramatic second leg affair, Inter Milan looked to be cruising through to the quarterfinal stage of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League as Federico Dimarco slammed home the opener, after finding himself the recipient of a Nicolo Barella cutback.
That lead lasted just two minutes though, and when Benjamin Pavard scuffed his clearance, Antoine Griezmann was quick to pick up the pieces and take advantage to instil hope amongst the home fans.
Embed from Getty ImagesMemphis Depay would complete the comeback in the 87th minute, with his low strike picking out the bottom corner to bring los Rojiblancos level on aggregate – just minutes after he came frustratingly close and struck the inside of the post.
Thirty minutes of extra time passed without either side finding the winner, ensuring that this game would be the second round-of-sixteen clash in as many days to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Atlético Madrid prevailed, with Depay, Rodrigo Riquelme and Angel Correa all burying their efforts from twelve yards out. Saul Niguez missed for the home side, but his blushes were spared by a superb performance from his own goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.
Lautaro Martínez’s effort did not even threaten Oblak though, with the Argentine forward blazing his effort over the bar as the Nerazzurri bow out of Europe, less than twelve months after reaching the final in Istanbul.
