Inter progress to the Champions League round of 16!

Thanks to a penalty from Lautaro Martinez, Inter beat Salzburg 1-0 to qualify for the Champions League round of 16. With ten points from four matches, Inzaghi’s side have mathematically progressed to the knockouts alongside Real Sociedad. Inter and the Spanish team sit level on points, with Salzburg on three and Benfica on zero.

The early stages were complicated but Inter started to increase the tempo as the first half drew to an end, with Bastoni and Frattesi both coming close. With Sommer enjoying a relatively quiet evening, Asllani came on and looked to dictate play, but it was the introductions of Barella and Lautaro that really shook things up just as it seemed like the game was slowing down. After Asllani had tested Schlager, Lautaro hit the bar from a Bastoni cross (the goalkeeper got fingertips to El Toro’s header). Inter were getting stronger and pushing forward, with Thuram causing the home defence real problems. It was from one of his runs that the only goal of the game came about: the ball ended up at the feet of Barella, whose shot was handled by Bidstrup. A clear penalty and Lautaro stepped up confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. A victory for Inter, who are celebrating making it into the round of 16!

SALZBURG 0-1 INTER

Goal: 85' Lautaro (I) pen.

SALZBURG (4-4-2): 24 Schlager; 70 Dedic, 6 Baidoo, 31 Pavlovic, 17 Ulmer (27 Gourna-Douath 46'); 10 Sucic, 18 Bidstrup, 7 Capaldo, 30 Gloukh; 23 Simic (21 Ratkov 79'), 19 Konaté (32 Forson 87'). Substitutes: 1 Mantl, 41 Krumrey, 11 Fernando, 15 Diambou, 39 Morgalla. Head Coach: Gerhard Struber.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 31 Bisseck (6 De Vrij 46'), 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 16 Frattesi, 20 Calhanoglu (21 Asllani 60'), 22 Mkhitaryan (23 Barella 69'), 30 Carlos Augusto (32 Dimarco 87'); 9 Thuram, 70 Sanchez (10 Lautaro 69'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 77 Audero, 2 Dumfries, 8 Arnautovic, 14 Klaassen, 44 Stabile. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Booked: Bisseck (I), Calhanoglu (I), Pavlovic (S), Gloukh (S) Added time: 2' - 6'

Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (NED). Assistants: Zeinstra, Balder (NED). Fourth official: Kooij (NED). VAR: Higler (NED). VAR assistant: Fritz (GER).