Inter Milan took a significant step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Feyenoord in the first leg of their last-16 tie. The match, played at Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, saw Inter’s potent attacking duo of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez deliver the decisive blows, leaving the Dutch side with a considerable uphill battle for the return leg in Milan. The victory sets up a potential quarter-final clash against the winner of the tie between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
The early stages of the game witnessed a vibrant and energetic display from both sides. While Inter, three-time European champions, dominated possession, Feyenoord crafted the more dangerous opportunities. Ibrahim Osman, the young Ghanaian winger on loan from Brighton, proved a constant threat to the Inter defense, forcing goalkeeper Josep Martinez into a couple of crucial saves. Inter also threatened, most notably when Thuram found himself with a clear path to goal but opted for a square pass rather than taking a shot, squandering a promising chance.
The deadlock was eventually broken by Thuram just eight minutes before half-time. Nicolo Barella delivered a perfectly weighted curling cross, which Thuram expertly met with the outside of his boot, guiding the ball into the far corner of the net. The goal, somewhat against the run of play, injected a renewed sense of purpose into Inter’s performance, and they began to assert themselves more forcefully in attack. Feyenoord, managed by club legend Robin van Persie, were fortunate to reach the interval only a goal down after an enthralling first half.
Inter’s advantage was doubled shortly after the restart. Five minutes into the second period, Martinez unleashed a powerful, unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net, leaving Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther with no chance. This second goal placed an even greater burden on the Dutch side, who now faced a daunting two-goal deficit. Feyenoord attempted to claw their way back into the match, with Jakub Moder coming close when his deflected effort grazed the crossbar.
Inter had an opportunity to put the game, and potentially the tie, beyond reach when they were awarded a penalty after a VAR review confirmed Jeyland Mitchell’s foul on Thuram inside the box. However, Wellenreuther produced a superb save, diving to his right to deny Piotr Zielinski from the spot. Despite Feyenoord’s persistent efforts to find a crucial away goal in the closing stages, Inter’s defense remained resolute, securing a valuable clean sheet and a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg.
The match highlighted the clinical finishing ability of Inter’s strike partnership, Thuram and Martinez, as well as the resilience of their defense. Feyenoord, despite showing glimpses of their attacking potential, were ultimately undone by Inter’s superior finishing and tactical nous. The result leaves Inter in a commanding position, while Feyenoord face a difficult task in overturning the two-goal deficit in the second leg at the San Siro. Inter’s Dutch international Denzel Dumfries acknowledged Feyenoord’s sporadic threat but emphasized Inter’s defensive solidity and effectiveness on the counter-attack.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Feyenoord will need to produce a significantly improved performance if they are to have any hope of progressing to the next round. They will need to find a way to breach Inter’s well-organized defense while simultaneously preventing Thuram and Martinez from adding to their tally. For Inter, the focus will be on maintaining their defensive discipline and capitalizing on any opportunities that arise on the counter-attack. The second leg promises to be a fascinating encounter, with Feyenoord needing to take risks in search of goals, potentially leaving them vulnerable to Inter’s counter-attacking threat. The tie remains firmly in Inter’s grasp, but Feyenoord will be determined to make it a contest in Milan.
