With a brilliant and convincing performance, Inter overcame the obstacle of Feyenoord again in the return leg. It was a qualification to the quarter-finals achieved without excess by Simone Inzaghi’s men, but instead with maturity and awareness of their own capabilities. Let’s summarize what we saw last night in our section Five things we learned from Inter-Feyenoord.
1 Inter have once again confirmed themselves among the eight best teams in Europe, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals as the only Italian team still competing in all competitions. Four tournaments, not three, as Simone Inzaghi likes to emphasize. Perhaps the evening’s enthusiasm was slightly dampened by the value of the opponent—who had already eliminated Milan—and by the first-leg victory, but the result remains extraordinary: Inter are among Europe’s elites.
2 In the Champions League, Inter seem to display a different approach compared to Serie A. An Inter that is more attentive, more clinical, capable of showcasing strength and a desire to also entertain. Despite some minor errors, the Nerazzurri demonstrated solid gameplay and a controlled management resembling a team fully aware of its value. The team seems to have found an ideal balance between attack and defense, with a mentality well-suited to European-level football.
3 Despite fatigue and absences, Inzaghi’s squad appeared physically lively. Mkhitaryan moved around as if he were at the peak of the season, while Thuram impressed everyone. His goal was similar to the one scored during the 5-1 derby win over Milan, although the highlight moment was hitting the crossbar following a surge forward reminiscent of Il Fenomeno Ronaldo’s best moments. The ankle issue that slowed him down in recent weeks now appears to be just a memory.
4 Not everything was perfect. The conceded penalty saw Calhanoglu being inattentive, although somewhat unlucky, while Asllani was carelessly booked and will consequently miss two crucial matches: the Champions game against Bayern and the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Milan, reducing midfield options. Additionally, Thuram could have avoided the simulation, and there is some concern regarding the slight injury suffered by de Vrij, with everyone hoping it’s nothing serious.
5 Now, Inter are preparing to face Bayern Munich, a challenging but not impossible obstacle. April will be a crucial month, filled with a Coppa Italia semifinal double-header, four decisive Serie A games and the Champions League quarter-finals, with a possible semi-final already in sight.
