Without too much trouble and with some rotations, Inter comfortably handled the return leg against Feyenoord, securing another victory, this time a 2-1 win, and advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals. At San Siro, the stunning goal from Thuram and the penalty converted by Calhanoglu decided the game, interrupted by another penalty scored by Moder.
During the match at San Siro, five observations emerged that probably went unnoticed to many, which we will now highlight in this analysis of Inter-Feyenoord.
1 April will be a tough month for Inter, with a packed schedule of crucial matches testing the depth of the squad. Between Serie A, Champions League, and Coppa Italia, the Nerazzurri won’t have a single week off, playing a total of 8 games. However, yesterday’s achievement brings good economic news: the season has already guaranteed €100 million in revenues.
2 With De Vrij‘s injury, the captain’s armband went to Dumfries. While some speculated the decision was linked to his shared nationality with De Vrij or for potentially getting softer treatment from referees, the truth seems simpler: Dumfries has been one of Inter’s top performers for months and fully deserved this recognition. He confirmed this again with a great performance, underlining his importance for Inzaghi.
3 The match at San Siro left a few issues ahead of the Atalanta clash. Apart from injured players Dimarco, Zalewski, Darmian, and Zielinski, who won’t recover in time, Frattesi and De Vrij also require monitoring, though their conditions do not appear overly concerning.
4 Thuram and Taremi are involved in controversy over diving, a matter picked up by Tuttosport. The reality is that these incidents must be avoided, as the Champions League does not forgive such episodes, and European competitions are also won by taking care of these small details.
5 Inzaghi has achieved a significant milestone: 200 matches in charge of Inter, recording an impressive tally of 133 wins. In the Champions League, he reached 23 victories, more than any other Nerazzurri coach. Abroad, his work is increasingly appreciated, and regardless of how this season concludes, even without titles, the Nerazzurri’s journey has been remarkable and represents an important step forward in the club’s growth.
