Inter soars with Thuram and Lautaro Martinez. The two forwards seal the victory in the Dutch away game, both contributing to the 2-0 win with which Simone Inzaghi's Nerazzurri beat Feyenoord in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. A fundamental victory that seems to bring them closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals, considering that the return leg will be played next Tuesday at San Siro. And also a victory with some regret, considering the penalty missed by Zielinski that would have brought Inzaghi's men to 3-0. Inter still isn't shining, especially physically, but they do their part. In the meantime, thanks to their two offensive leaders, ThuLa, with the Frenchman and the Argentine who return to scoring in the same game (the last time it happened was on January 19 at home against Empoli).

But above all with the characteristic of this year in the Champions League, namely the double-locked defense: in the nine games played so far, in fact, the Nerazzurri have conceded only one goal, in the recovery of the match against Bayer Leverkusen in the first phase. And to say that in Rotterdam Inter started perhaps too timidly, immediately being attacked by Feyenoord with the push of the home fans. Osman immediately tries to worry the Nerazzurri defense, but Martinez is alert and puts it in the corner. Inzaghi's team struggles to take the measure of their opponents, but as soon as they succeed they start to play their football albeit with different men. The first shot on goal is a left-footed shot from inside the area by Acerbi, in an offensive projection, which however does not worry the goalkeeper of the Dutch team.

Inter then tried to accelerate further and took the lead at the first real opportunity: a poisonous first-time cross from Barella, Thuram broke free with a nice move from Beelen and from two steps with the outside of the ball broke the deadlock. The goal that put Feyenoord behind sent them into chaos, with the Dutch defense losing the ball in the build-up and Lautaro immediately coming close to doubling the lead with a right-footed shot into the bottom corner that was well saved by Wellenreuther. Who then responded also on a free kick well taken by Asllani. The second half began with the same script, that is, as soon as Inter accelerated they managed to break through. Bastoni found Zielinski from the wing, who after a rebound served the assist for Lautaro: a dry right-footed shot under the crossbar and the doubling thus arrived already at the start of the second half. The Argentine scored his 18th goal in the Champions League for the Nerazzurri, becoming the top scorer in Inter's history in the former Champions Cup, overtaking Mazzola (with 17).

The game seems to be in the hands of the Nerazzurri team, who however risk a lot with a deflection by Moder that chips the crossbar with Martinez beaten. When Feyenoord seems to be back in the game, Inter has the ball to definitively close the contest, when Mitchell touches Thuram on the foot in the area and the referee Eskas, after a VAR review, awards the penalty: Zielinski steps up to take the spot but, however, is hypnotized by Wellenreuther. A wasted opportunity to definitively close the qualification issue, while Feyenoord in the last half hour does little to try to reopen the challenge: Inter limits itself to controlling and takes home a victory that gives hope for the return match.

(Online Union)

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