Inter Milan secured their spot in the Champions League quarterfinals with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory over Feyenoord, following a 2-1 triumph in the second leg at the San Siro on Tuesday.
Goals from Marcus Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoğlu ensured a smooth progression for the Serie A leaders, setting up a highly anticipated clash against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, who cruised past Bayer Leverkusen with a 5-0 aggregate score.
Inter, three-time winners of the prestigious trophy, last claimed the title in 2010, defeating Bayern in the final during their historic treble-winning campaign.
With a Coppa Italia semifinal also on the horizon, Simone Inzaghi’s squad remains in contention for multiple honors this season.
The match began with Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther called into action early. He failed to hold onto Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s shot but quickly recovered to collect Carlos Augusto’s header from the subsequent corner.
The Dutch side, facing an uphill battle after their 2-0 first-leg defeat, sought to make an early impact. Aymen Sliti, making his senior debut, tested Inter’s Yann Sommer from distance, but the experienced keeper comfortably gathered the effort.
However, Feyenoord’s hopes took a significant hit just eight minutes in when Thuram produced a moment of brilliance.
The French forward, who had also scored in the first leg, picked up the ball on the left wing, weaved his way into the box with some dazzling footwork, and curled a stunning shot into the far top corner.
Inter continued to press, with Mehdi Taremi directing a shot straight at Wellenreuther, but Feyenoord found a lifeline three minutes before halftime. Çalhanoğlu was penalized for a foul on Jakub Moder inside the box, and the Polish midfielder stepped up to convert the penalty, sending his effort into the bottom corner.
It was only the second goal Inter had conceded in the competition and the first at the San Siro this season.
Any thoughts of a Feyenoord comeback were quickly extinguished when Çalhanoğlu redeemed himself six minutes into the second half.
Thomas Beelen fouled Taremi in the box, allowing the Turkish midfielder to confidently dispatch the resulting penalty.
Feyenoord, pushing forward in search of a lifeline, left themselves exposed at the back. Inter nearly won another penalty, but after a VAR review, Thuram was instead shown a yellow card for simulation.
The Frenchman remained a constant threat and nearly capped his performance with a stunning goal, rattling the crossbar with a powerful strike before receiving a standing ovation as he was substituted.
With the tie effectively sealed, Inter comfortably saw out the remaining minutes, ensuring their place in the quarterfinals as they continue their pursuit of European glory.
