Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Christian Eriksen got the job done for Inter as Antonio Conte’s side moved past Getafe at the Arena Aufschalke in Gelsenkirchen in their Europa League Round of 16 single match.
Inter took the lead with the Belgian’s 11th goal in 8 Europa League appearances this season but risked seeing their lead canceled when referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty to the Spanish side. Jorge Molina of Getafe, however, failed to bury the spot and Christian Eriksen eventually wrapped Inter’s win just a couple minutes after making his entrance to the pitch.
The Spanish side had a strong start and, after less than two minutes, Samir Handanovic was called to action to defuse a tricky header challenge from Nemanja Maksimovic.
Inter evidenced some lack of ideas and couldn’t produce anything in the initial 15 minutes, but then goalkeeper David Soria had to leave the posts to anticipate Lautaro Martinez, well served by Nicoló Barella with a long-range pass.
El Toro tested again the Spanish arquero twice between the 24th and the 26th minute with two vicious snapshots to which Soria answered with some fine goalkeeping.
Inter’s best weapon, however, proved to be long-range crosses as Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute making the best out of an Alessandro Bastoni service from behind the midfield line. It took all the Belgian’s power to get rid of his marker Xabier Exteita and put the ball past David Soria.
Right after the restart, Danilo D’Ambrosio tried an acrobatic conversion which was pushed away again by Soria, before Jamie Mata could prevent Diego Godin from tapping the ball in. Getafe’s number 7 eventually went close to equalize for his side as he forced Samir Handanovic to deny him in the 66th minute showing some great reflexes.
Getafe lost their golden chance to draw level as substitute Jorge Molina wasted a penalty awarded for a Diego Godin handball with a terrible conversion which sent the ball poorly out of the target.
One minute later, Lukaku tried to emulate him by poorly failing to finish from point-blank range to close the game. Scoring the second was only a matter of minutes, however, as Christian Eriksen doubled Inter’s lead just after replacing Marcelo Brozovic.
The Dane took advantage of an ineffective defensive clearance from the Spanish side to tuck the ball home and send the Nerazzurri to the Quarter Finals of the second European competition, where they will face the winner between Bayer Leverkusen and Glasgow Rangers.
MATCH REPORT
August 5, 2020 – Europa League 2019-20 Round of 16
INTER-GETAFE 2-0
SCORERS: 33′ Lukaku, 83′ Eriksen
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INTER (3-5-2): Handanovic; Godin, de Vrij, Bastoni; D’Ambrosio, Barella, Brozovic (81′ Eriksen), Gagliardini, Young; Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez (69′ Sanchez) (Padelli, Moses, Sensi, Ranocchia, Borja Valero, Esposito, Agoumé, Biraghi, Skriniar, Candreva) Coach: Conte |
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GETAFE (4-5-1): Soria; Olivera (89′ Portillo), Exteita, Djené, Suarez; Nyom (68′ Jason), Timor, Arambarri (89′ Hugo Duro), Maksimovic (56′ Angel), Cucurella; Mata (68′ Molina) (Chichizola, Jean Paul, Cabaco, Chema, Portillo, Diedhou, Fajr) Coach: Bordalás |
REFEREE: Taylor (England)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Suarez (G); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 6′