Inter Milan took a significant step toward the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
The result extends Inter’s unbeaten European record against Dutch opposition to 12 matches, giving them a strong advantage ahead of the second leg.
Feyenoord, having already eliminated AC Milan earlier in the tournament, aimed to complete a Milan double by upsetting Inter. They started brightly, pressing forward and forcing Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez into action early on, with Ibrahim Osman testing him inside the opening five minutes.
Despite struggling to impose themselves in the first half, Inter found a breakthrough just before the break. Nicolo Barella delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post, where Marcus Thuram acrobatically finished to put the visitors ahead.
The Italian side nearly doubled their lead immediately, but Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther denied Lautaro Martínez’s effort. However, the Argentine striker wasn’t to be denied for long. Five minutes into the second half, he capitalized on a loose ball in the box, smashing his shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.
Feyenoord’s frustrations grew when Jeyland Mitchell conceded a penalty for a foul on Thuram. Piotr Zielinski stepped up, but Wellenreuther produced a superb save to keep his team in the contest.
Moments later, the Dutch side appealed for a penalty of their own when Ayase Ueda went down under a challenge from Stefan de Vrij, but the referee waved play on.
Feyenoord pushed desperately for a late goal to keep their hopes alive, but Inter held firm. The Dutch side now face an uphill task in the return leg, needing to overcome a side that hasn’t lost a home Champions League match since September 2022—let alone by three goals.
Inter’s clinical performance puts them firmly in the driver’s seat, leaving Feyenoord with a steep challenge in the second leg.
