For the first time since 2011, three-time Champions League champion Inter Milan advanced to the round of eight.
Tuesday’s hard-fought 0-0 draw between Inter and Porto allowed them to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League by a score of 1-0 overall. The Italian team, which has won this competition three times, reached the round of eight for the first time since 2011.
Romelu Lukaku’s late winner in the first leg of the last 16 gave Inter a one-goal lead, and they prepared to frustrate Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
Porto had the majority of the possession but was only able to pose a few challenges to Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, failing to advance for the third time in their previous five attempts.
They had their best chances in stoppage time, when Mehdi Taremi and Grujic both shot just wide of the post, and Marcano’s attempt was cleared off the line.
With Romelu Lukaku sitting on the bench, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi started Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez up front in an effort to snap a losing streak away from home.
Porto has a good recent record against Italian teams, having defeated Juventus and Roma recently, but the 180 minutes against Inter were without a goal for the Portuguese champions. Pepe, a 40-year-old veteran centre back, was unable to join the team after they were suddenly without their captain.
Otavio, who was released at the San Siro, was also absent for Porto, but Stephen Eustaquio filled in admirably.
Early on, Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa made good saves on Dzeko and Nicolo Barella while Matheus Uribe sent a vicious shot just wide of Inter’s net. For the majority of the first half, Sergio Conceicao’s team was in control, and Evanilson was only kept at bay by a skillful sliding block by Federico Dimarco.
Just before halftime, the hosts might have taken the lead, but Eustaquio was unable to connect on Pepe’s enticing cross from Brazil. As Porto’s urgency increased, Grujic tested Andre Onana with a low drive, and Galeno also compelled the Cameroonian international to make a save.
Despite losing Alessandro Bastoni to what appears to be a hamstring injury, Inter clung tenaciously to their slim lead from the first leg. In the dying moments, Milan Skriniar returned from injury as Inzaghi’s team dug in and stopped Porto at every turn.
In the final seconds of regulation, Denzel Dumfries successfully cleared Marcano’s shot off the line to deny Porto its first real opportunity of the contest.
In a heartbreaking finish, the Portuguese team hit the crossbar and the post twice: Onana pushed Taremi’s header against the post, and Grujic nodded against the crossbar. Pepe, a wide player for Porto, was dismissed at the very end for receiving a second yellow card, and Inter held off the late onslaught.
Inzaghi is under pressure because the Italians have only triumphed once on the road, in 2023, but the quarterfinals give him more breathing room.
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