In the first leg of Champions League round of 16, Inter defeated 10-man Porto thanks to the solo goal from Romelu Lukaku.
Porto made four changes to the team that defeated Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga, earning all three points. Sanusi replaced Wendell at left-back for the opening. Otavio and Galeno were chosen over Franco and Eustaquio to play with wingers rather than a narrow formation. Martinez, who recently scored the game-winning goal, was replaced in the starting lineup by Uribe.
Inter made four adjustments to the squad that defeated Udinese in Serie A, including a switch at goalkeeper with Onana getting the nod over Handanovic. Darmian moved up to the right side of the midfield in place of Dumfries, who was benched as the team continues to play with three center-backs. Skriniar entered the defence after vacating a position. Brozovic was replaced by Calhanoglu in the middle of the field. Martinez, who recently scored off the bench, was jpoined together in attack with Dzeko in place of Lukaku.
Through their two wingers, Inter sought to get off to a quick start. Darmian moved to the byline on the right before hopping over to Dimarco. His volley from within the box was stopped after a late run.
In the initial few minutes, Porto pressed effectively. Onana was compelled to clear the ball off the field by Galeno.
Darmian made a shrewd pass into the Porto defence in the seventh minute, finding Martinez who had slipped back. After that, the striker changed it to the right flank as Barella raced down the wing. The midfielder attempted to play the ball inside to Dzeko while sprinting forward, but the ball was cleared.
Martinez had a huge opportunity in the thirteenth minute to give Inter the lead. When Martinez was free at the back of the box, Dimarco received the ball on the left flank and played it over Sanusi’s head. The Argentine advanced from close range while unmarked but in the end he headed the ball well over the goal post.
When the corner was quickly taken, Calhanoglu pushed the ball behind but Costa was quick to stop him. After Dimarco and the midfielder exchanged passes, Calhanoglu was able to curl a shot from a narrow angle towards the goal.
Grujic was the recipient of Porto’s first shot, which was deflected to the midfielder at the edge of the box. He jumped onto it and launched his initial attempt well over.
Otavio sent Sanusi a quick pass, and the left-back dribbled the ball into the penalty area. Skriniar was present, but the defender headed the ball up into the air as Aquino fired a shot at the target. Skriniar, however, was present to make a block.
As Taremi approached the byline, Otavio threaded the ball down the right side of the box. He backheeled it to Grujic, who fired a shot at Onana while moving away from the goal. Galeno attempted to catch the rebound but was unsuccessful.
Costa made a superb save just before halftime. Bastoni was prepared for Dimarco’s inswinging cross as it moved towards the near post. His downward header was saved by the goalkeeper’s astute stop.
At the start of the second half Aquino attempted to chip the ball across the box, but Galeno was unsuccessful in connecting with it. Before travelling to the byline, the ball strikes the winger’s top of the head.
Barella made a wise move. Skriniar played the ball long, and after sprinting down the right side of the box, he fired a shot across the goal. It bounced just wide as it descended. Another close call for Inter.
Porto’s counter was excellent. Aquino threaded the ball to Taremi, who was facing Onana alone, but under duress, his attempt was weak, and the goalkeeper deflected it wide.
Skriniar, who slid in to block Sanusi’s initial shot, then the goalkeeper secured the rebound. It was directed to Taremi in the centre of the box, but Onana stopped him from scoring before the flag was raised.
Lukaku was effectively using his body as a target man after being hired for the job. Barella sliced a shot over the crossbar after the striker chested a long ball back to him. A great chance wasted by Inter midfielder.
Brozovic took part in an Inter opportunity right away after entering the game. He passed the ball inside to Calhanoglu, who then passed it to Lukaku on the right edge of the box. The striker chose to pass the ball to Martinez across the box rather than taking a shot. He attempted but failed to slide onto the end of it.
Otavio was given a second yellow for a late challenge on Calhanoglu on the Porto box’s edge. As the player sent off, the opposition had to play with 10 men for 12 minutes against Inter.
Since entering the game for Inter, Lukaku had excelled, and he had scored. His header, which was the result of a Barella cross, hit the post. The substitute quickly reacted to the rebound and crashed the subsequent attempt past Costa.
Lukaku had another opportunity to score for Inter. Acerbi flicked Calhanoglu’s corner from the left into the path of the striker. His shot from a small angle was deflected by Costa as he turned.
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