Reigning Serie A champions Inter saw off Feyenoord 2-1 in the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to seal quarter-final qualification. Simone Inzaghi’s side posted a clinical 4-1 aggregate victory against the Dutch outfit to maintain their dream of winning a coveted treble.
Inter won the famous ‘triple crown’ in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. It was also the last time they ascended the Champions League throne. Fifteen years on, Inzaghi could follow in the Special One’s footsteps, even though many leading sports betting sites don’t fancy Nerazzurri‘s chances of dethroning Real Madrid.
Despite their sterling run in the newly formatted league phase and a dominant last-16 triumph against Feyenoord, Inzaghi’s charges are only sixth-favorites to win the most prestigious club title in European football. With Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid still in the mix, these long odds are hardly surprising.
However, Inter deserve the benefit of the doubt, as they have demonstrated resilience, tactical prowess, and the ability to compete with Europe’s elite.
Defensive Masterclass
Inter defied expectations in the league phase to lock down an impressive fourth-place finish, largely thanks to an almost-impregnable backline. Indeed, the defensive solidity showcased by the Nerazzurri in the competition’s new format was off the charts.
Nordi Mukiele’s 90th-minute winner inspired Bayer Leverkusen to a last-gasp 1-0 win against the Italian giants on Matchday 6. However, that was Inter’s only defeat in this season’s competition (W8, D1). Furthermore, that had been the only goal conceded by Inzaghi’s team until last night.
Inter could’ve shut Feyenoord out had it not been for Francesco Acerbi’s reckless marking inside the box, which led to a penalty, subsequently converted by Jakub Moder. Though they failed to register another clean sheet, the Nerazzurri remain Europe’s best defensive unit.
Home Fortress
Last week’s win against Robin Van Persie’s side solidified Inter’s reputation as one of the best home teams in the Champions League. For context, Inzaghi’s lads haven’t lost a European match at the San Siro since October 2022, racking up a 15-game unbeaten run.
The league stage was plain sailing for Inter as they won all four home games via a combined score of 9-0, dispatching Arsenal, among others, during that patch. Furthermore, they have won their last seven home outings across all competitions, scoring multiple goals on six occasions.
Overall, the only team to beat Inter at the San Siro this season was eternal city rivals Milan in mid-September. As such, Inzaghi can rely on Inter’s home dominance to pave the way for their second grand-final qualification in three years.
Formidable attack
The sturdy backline has run the show. However, Inter’s dynamic attacking duo has kept their end of the bargain. Marcus Thuram showed a glimpse of his world-class potential with a sublime solo goal against Feyenoord last night, while he also opened the scoring with a ‘karate’ finish in the first leg.
His partner, Lautaro Martinez, made history in Rotterdam, becoming Inter’s outright top goalscorer in the Champions League with 18 goals. El Toro has performed in patches this season, but the Nerazzurri can rely on their talismanic captain to navigate them through the challenges down the final stretch.