Champions League, Inter-Porto 1-0: goal from Lukaku

Inter win the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League thanks to a goal from Romelu Lukaku, the long-awaited and unlucky bomber in the first part of the season. Four minutes from the end, it was the Belgian’s paw that broke a Porto down to ten after Otavio’s expulsion. Inzaghi’s success is deserved, but the Piacenza coach must also thank Onana’s saves, with a providential 0-0 draw on at least three occasions. Qualifying is far from safe and the Nerazzurri are expected to have a battle in Porto, but on 14 March they will have two results out of three thanks to tonight’s success. Considering that Conceiçao’s men hadn’t lost for 4 months, the celebration at San Siro after the final whistle is justifiable.

THE BULL WASTES

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Inzaghi proposes the same team that won the Italian Super Cup against Milan and prefers Dzeko to Lukaku as captain Lautaro’s partner; Conceiçao recovers all the starters knocked out (Otavio, Uribe and Galen) and sets them up from 1′. Porto show no fears: they go high in pressure and as Otavio centers to annoy Calhanoglu, the classic 4-4-2 of the former Parma and Lazio midfielder turns into a 4-2-3-1 that has Pepê on the right and Galen at left. Inter started strong with a shot by Dimarco rebounded by Joao Mario and with a high header from an excellent position by Toro. Porto, however, does not stand by and does not retreat into their own half: Conceiçao, after embracing his friend Inzaghi in the pre-match, asks his team to stand up and the Portuguese champions do so leaning on Taremi, good at keeping busy Unripe. The field, in terrible conditions, does not lend a hand with the dribble, but Calhanoglu tries anyway to escape the Brazilian’s marking and to give rhythm to the maneuver. Barella looks for the Eurogol with a blow from outside that ends high, then it’s the Turk, in the development of a corner kick, who worries Diogo Costa with a razor blade, ready to lift over the crossbar. The hosts play the game, they have more possession (60% at the interval), but in the middle of the field Uribe and Grujic are a good barrier and for Mkhitaryan, decisive against Udinese, it is more complicated to show the.. . superpowers. He would need some field changes or some ball recovery in a more advanced position, but the guests don’t pull their foot back and are physically fine. It is no coincidence that they are returning from 10 victories in a row and in the 27th minute with Grujic they conclude for the first time towards Onana’s goal without however framing the mirror.

WHAT NERVOUSNESS

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As the minutes go by, Porto grows and creates, with a through ball from Otavio, their best goal: Taremi’s back is illuminating and arms Grujic’s right foot, rejected by Onana. Galen with the tap in the basket the possible advantage. It’s 37′ and San Siro falls silent for a few seconds. He perks up four minutes later, for a penalty demanded by Darmian for a touch on his foot by Galen. Jovanovic struggles to keep hold of a match that becomes nervous. Evident tension also at the Nerazzurri: Dzeko briskly picks up Onana who replies and Calhanoglu is needed to calm the Cameroonian, excited from the start due to a couple of wrong postponements. It seems to review the bickering between Barella and Lukaku in Genoa, just 9 days ago. It’s not a good sign. Luckily the Nerazzurri resumed play and, at the end of the stoppage time, a prodigious reflex, indeed a real miracle, was needed by Diogo Costa to clear Bastoni’s header out of the net, deflected by Joao Mario, following Dimarco’s free-kick.

SUPER ONANA

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The second fraction resumes with the same formations, even if Galen, recovered in extremis, resists only four minutes before surrendering to cramps: in his place Evanilson. The first ring comes from Inter: on a great throw from Skriniar, Barella lets the ball slide, evades Marcano’s intervention and kicks diagonally, with the ball just getting lost on the back. Porto responds with a restart from Pepê who serves Taremi, whose conclusion is stopped by Onana. The Nerazzurri goalkeeper is also superb a few seconds later with two consecutive interventions on Zaidu and Taremi. Inzaghi understands that his team is in trouble and changes: Lukaku in for a very nervous Dzeko and Gosens for the booked Dimarco. It is the decisive move. Gosens, who entered well, places a couple of crosses, but it is still Barella, from outside, who finishes high. Simone also plays the Brozovic card in place of the dull Mkhitaryan and the Croatian gives way to a very dangerous action: Calhanoglu triggers Lukaku who looks for Lautaro without however the Bull arriving in time for the detour.

RED TO OTAVIO AND BIG ROM STRIKES

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The challenge becomes exciting because the formations are stretched and Porto almost take the lead with the usual Taremi. Otavio, who had been out for some time and now in debt of oxygen, was sent off for a second yellow card and Porto in ten are expected to be under siege for a quarter of an hour. Dumfries adds a push to the right in place of Skriniar, Conceiçao takes cover with Wendell for Taremi, but the Inter fans come from all sides. The advantage is in the air and materializes on Barella’s cross from the right: Lukaku anticipates Pepe and hits the post, but scores on the rebound. Big Rom also wants to double, Diogo Costa puts a piece of it. Jovanovic blows his whistle after 4′ of stoppage time and the Meazza celebrates.