Inter Milan have placed one foot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-finals after a 2-0 first-leg victory over Feyenoord Rotterdam. The Italian giants extended their remarkable unbeaten European streak against Dutch opposition to 12 matches, reinforcing their dominance on the big stage. With their recent performance, Inter have made a strong statement of intent in their quest for European glory.
Feyenoord’s Early Promise Fizzles Out
Having already eliminated AC Milan earlier in the competition, Feyenoord had high hopes of completing a Milanese double by defeating Inter in the round of 16. They started the match aggressively, countering with pace and forcing Josep Martínez into an early save after a sharp effort from Ibrahim Osman inside the first five minutes.
Inter, on the other hand, struggled to impose themselves in the opening half-hour but found their golden opportunity when Marcus Thuram burst behind the Feyenoord defense. He squared the ball for Lautaro Martínez, only for a spectacular last-ditch block to deny him a certain goal.
Thuram and Martínez Fire Inter Ahead
Despite Feyenoord’s defensive resilience, they could not hold on for long. Just before halftime, Nicolò Barella produced a moment of magic, delivering a pin-point cross to the far post, which Thuram acrobatically converted to give Inter the lead.
Inter nearly doubled their advantage before the break, but Feyenoord’s goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther made a brilliant save to keep Martínez at bay. However, the Argentine striker was not to be denied for long, as he pounced on a loose ball inside the box early in the second half and smashed it into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.
Missed Penalties and VAR Drama
With Feyenoord trailing, they desperately needed a goal to keep their hopes alive. Their task became even harder when Jeyland Mitchell brought down Thuram in the penalty area. Initially escaping punishment, Mitchell was found guilty after a VAR review. Piotr Zieliński stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was superbly saved by Wellenreuther, keeping the Dutch side’s slim chances alive.
Feyenoord then thought they had a penalty of their own when Ayase Ueda went down in the box under a challenge from Stefan de Vrij, but referee Espen Eskås waved away their appeals. The decision further dampened the visitors’ spirits as they struggled to mount a comeback.
Feyenoord Face an Uphill Battle
Despite a late push for a crucial away goal, Feyenoord failed to find the back of the net. Now, they face an almost insurmountable task in the return leg, as overturning a two-goal deficit against an Inter Milan side that hasn’t lost a home UCL match since September 2022 seems highly improbable.
With Inter Milan’s solid defense and clinical attack, Feyenoord will need nothing short of a miracle in the second leg to stay in the competition.
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With Inter Milan in the driving seat, will Feyenoord pull off an unlikely comeback, or will Inter cruise into the quarter-finals? Stay tuned for the second leg!
