Inter Milan cruised into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening, securing a 2-1 victory over Feyenoord to progress 4-1 on aggregate.
The match, which saw Inter dominate for large portions, was effectively sealed early on thanks to a thunderous strike from Marcus Thuram in the eighth minute and a second-half penalty by Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Italian champions, already holding a strong 2-0 advantage from the first leg, had little trouble holding on to their lead, although Feyenoord did manage a brief glimmer of hope.
Thuram opened the scoring after receiving a pass from Carlos Augusto on the left flank. The French forward cut inside onto his right foot and fired a powerful shot past Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther.
The early goal made Feyenoord’s task much harder, and despite their best efforts, they could not break through Inter’s defence.
The Dutch side, led by former Netherlands striker Robin van Persie, had to contend with a number of key injuries and suspensions, which limited their options on the night.
Still, they had a chance to get back into the game when Jakub Moder converted a penalty in the 38th minute after Inter’s Calhanoglu was adjudged to have fouled the Polish midfielder.
However, just five minutes into the second half, Calhanoglu redeemed himself. A soft foul by Feyenoord’s Thomas Beelen on Mehdi Taremi led to a penalty for Inter, which Calhanoglu confidently converted, making it 2-1 on the night. His ninth goal of the season was a vital one, effectively sealing the tie and ensuring Inter’s progression to the next round.
Despite missing several key players, including Italy’s Federico Dimarco, and resting others like Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella, Inter were able to comfortably see out the match.
The fans, who had protested the increasing cost of match tickets by staying silent for the first 20 minutes, were soon celebrating as Inter looked set for a high-profile quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich.
Bayern’s inclusion in the quarter-finals promises to be a tantalising fixture, bringing back memories of Inter’s historic 2010 treble-winning season, the last time an Italian side lifted the Champions League trophy.
With this win, Inter Milan have shown they are ready to take on the best Europe has to offer, with their next challenge coming in the form of the formidable Bavarians.
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