Inter Milan took a huge step toward the Champions League quarter-finals with a clinical 2-0 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam, thanks to strikes from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez. The Italian giants now hold the advantage heading into the second leg at the San Siro.
Thuram & Martínez Deliver the Goods
Feyenoord started strong, backed by a roaring De Kuip crowd, with Brighton loanee Ibrahim Osman causing problems down the flanks. The Dutch side looked dangerous early on, forcing Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez into action.
But when Inter got their chance, they took it. Thuram opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a brilliant outside-foot finish after latching onto Nicolò Barella’s pinpoint cross—an ice-cold moment of class just before halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, Martínez doubled the lead in style, rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner, leaving Feyenoord’s hopes hanging by a thread.
VAR Drama & Feyenoord’s Missed Chance
Feyenoord had their moments, with Jakub Moder nearly pulling one back, his deflected shot skimming the crossbar. Inter had a golden chance to seal the tie when Jeyland Mitchell fouled Thuram in the box, leading to a penalty after a lengthy VAR check.
However, Feyenoord’s Timon Wellenreuther kept his side alive with a superb save from Piotr Zieliński’s spot-kick.
Despite a late push from Feyenoord, Inter’s rock-solid defense held firm, securing a crucial win. With the return leg set for Milan, Robin van Persie’s side faces an uphill battle to overturn the deficit.
Can Feyenoord pull off a shock comeback, or will Inter cruise into the quarter-finals? All eyes now turn to the San Siro.
