Paulo Sergio and Andrea Stramaccioni pit their wits against each other for the second time tonight, following Inter's 2-0 win in Milan, their only other meeting.

Cluj have played Italian opposition on five occasions in the past: the Romanians have won one, drawn one and lost three. They are yet to keep a clean sheet against sides from the peninsula, who have managed nine goals in that time.

Inter have played 17 times against Romanian opposition in the past: the Nerazzurri have won 11, drawn three and lost three. In Romania, Inter have won four (including victories on each of their last three visits), drawn one and lost three.

Inter have won on their last three trips to Romania, without conceding: 2-0 over Rapid Bucharest in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup, 3-0 over Brasov in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup and 2-0 against Vaslui in Piatra Neamt during the current campaign. The last goal the Nerazzurri conceded in Romania was Sandu's 83rd minute winner for Sportul as they beat Inter 1-0 on 19 September 1984, in the UEFA Cup. Since then the Nerazzurri have clocked up 277 minutes without conceding in Romania.

Rodrigo Palacio, scorer of 7 goals thus far in this season's Europa League, is looking to overhaul Roberto Boninsegna's all-time record for goals in a single campaign in this competition (Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup, Europa League). The man from Mantova smashed nine in the 1969/70 season.

Tonight is the eighth time Inter have led 2-0 from the first leg at home. The Nerazzurri have progressed on six occasions in the past: 1-1 against Universitatea in Krakow in the 1980/81 European Cup, 1-2 against Slovan Bratislava in the 1982/83 Cup Winners' Cup, 1-0 over AEK Athens in the 1986/86 UEFA Cup, 0-1 to Roma in the final of the 1990/91 UEFA Cup, 2-0 over Neuchatel Xamax in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup and 0-1 to Wisla Krakow in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup. The Nerazzurri have only gone out once having led 2-0 from the home leg: 1984/85 they went out following a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid.

The Nerazzurri have not won on the road in a competitive match since 8 November 2012 when they ran out 3-1 winners over Partizan Belgrade: since then Inter have recorded one draw (1-1 at Roma on 20 January) and eight defeats. Inter have conceded at least one goal in their last 12 away games, shipping 24 in the process. The last time the Nerazzurri kept a clean sheet away from home was on 7 October 2012, with the 1-0 derby win over AC Milan.

Pawel Gil (born in Lublin, Poland, on 28 June 1976) has been an international referee since 2009. He has overseen 6 matches in European competition this season. Here they are in chronological order: Apoel Nicosia 2-0 Senica FK (Europa League second qualifying round), Eskisehirspor 1-1 Olympique Marseille (Europa League third qualifying round), Dinamo Bucharest 0-1 Metalist Kharkiv (Europa League play-off), Shakhtar 2-0 Nordsjaelland (Champions League group stage), Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League group stage) and Tottenham 3-1 Panathanaikos (Europa League group stage). Tonight is the first time Mr. Gil will officiate a match involving Inter or Cluj. The Polish referee has only taken charge of Romanian side once before: Dinamo Bucharest 0-2 Metalist Kharkiv, the Europa League play-off, on 23 August 2012. He has encountered an Italian team once in the past too: FC Zurich 1-1 Lazio in the Europa League on 20 October 2011.

Pawel Gil (born in Lublin, Poland, on 28 June 1976) has been an international referee since 2009. He has overseen 6 matches in European competition this season. Here they are in chronological order: Apoel Nicosia 2-0 Senica FK (Europa League second qualifying round), Eskisehirspor 1-1 Olympique Marseille (Europa League third qualifying round), Dinamo Bucharest 0-1 Metalist Kharkiv (Europa League play-off), Shakhtar 2-0 Nordsjaelland (Champions League group stage), Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League group stage) and Tottenham 3-1 Panathanaikos (Europa League group stage). Tonight is the first time Mr. Gil will officiate a match involving Inter or Cluj. The Polish referee has only taken charge of a Romanian side once before: Dinamo Bucharest 0-2 Metalist Kharkiv, the Europa League play-off, on 23 August 2012. He has encountered an Italian team once in the past too: FC Zurich 1-1 Lazio in the Europa League on 20 October 2011.

Pawel Gil (born in Lublin, Poland, on 28 June 1976) has been an international referee since 2009. He has overseen 6 matches in European competition this season. Here they are in chronological order: Apoel Nicosia 2-0 Senica FK (Europa League second qualifying round), Eskisehirspor 1-1 Olympique Marseille (Europa League third qualifying round), Dinamo Bucharest 0-1 Metalist Kharkiv (Europa League play-off), Shakhtar 2-0 Nordsjaelland (Champions League group stage), Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League group stage) and Tottenham 3-1 Panathanaikos (Europa League group stage). Tonight is the first time Mr. Gil will officiate a match involving Inter or Cluj. The Polish referee has only taken charge of a Romanian side once before: Dinamo Bucharest 0-2 Metalist Kharkiv, the Europa League play-off, on 23 August 2012. He has encountered an Italian team once in the past too: FC Zurich 1-1 Lazio in the Europa League on 20 October 2011.

CLUJ - Inter have seen off Cluj 3-0 tonight, and storm into the Europa League last 16, 5-0 on aggregate. Fredy Guarin bagged two and Benassi added a third late on, and the Nerazzurri will now meet Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the quarter finals.

Cassano missed a great chance after 10 minutes as he fired over when one-on-one with Felgueiras. After 22 minutes Alvarez showed quick feet before steering it through to Palacio: the Argentine looked up and unselfishly rolled the ball square to Guarin to tuck into the empty net and give the Nerazzurri the lead.

The Colombian didn't stop there however: once again Alvarez was involved, picking up the ball after Felgueiras had fumbled, and his pass gave Guarin another straightforward finish. Cluj found themselves a man down, ten minutes from time, as Camora hauled down Benassi when through on goal. Inter also finished the match with only ten men on the field as a muscle injury forced Ranocchia off with a few minutes to play. On 88 minutes Benassi was celebrating his first professional goal as he poked under the advancing Felgueiras, following a delicious ball from Cassano, and made it 3-0 to Inter.

A late equaliser from Tottenham sent them through 3-2 on aggregate over Lyon and the English side will meet the Nerazzurri in the last 16. The first leg will be played at London's White Hart Lane on 7 March.

Cluj 0-3 Inter (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Guarin 22, 45+1, Benassi 88.

Cluj: 1 Felgueiras; 20 Cadu, 13 Piccolo, 24 Rada (Kapetanos 36); 23 Godemeche; 3 Ivo Pinto, 6 Muresan (Hora 9), 8 Sepsi, 45 Camora; 14 Maah, 30 Rui Pedro (Valente 71).
Subs not used: 44 Stancioiu, 12 Maftei, 19 Bjelanovic, 26 Celestino.
Coach: Paulo Sergio.

Inter: 1 Handanovic; 4 Zanetti, 23 Ranocchia, 40 Juan Jesus, 31 Pereira; 11 Alvarez (Pasa 54), 19 Cambiasso, 29 Kovacic; 14 Guarin (Mbaye 66); 8 Palacio (Benassi 46), 99 Cassano.
Subs not used: 27 Belec, 21 Gargano, 26 Chivu, 49 Terrani.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.

Referee: Pawel Gil (POL).
Booked: Kovacic 16, Kapetanos 38, Cadu 84.
Sent off: Camora 80.
Added time: 3+3 minutes. 

starting lineups

substitutes