Inter Milan Advances to UCL Quarter-Finals with 4-1 Aggregate Win

Inter Milan secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, defeating Feyenoord 2-1 and advancing 4-1 on aggregate, with goals from Marcus Thuram and Hakan Calhanoglu.

Inter Milan secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, defeating Feyenoord 2-1 and advancing 4-1 on aggregate, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich.

Inter Milan's unbeaten UEFA Champions League run at San Siro now stands at 15 matches, following their 2-1 win over Feyenoord. The Dutch side faced an uphill battle after losing the first leg 2-0, and their sluggish start only made their task more daunting.

Inter progress to quarter-finals 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/hWQFwh7nGo

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2025

Feyenoord was given an early warning when Henrikh Mkhitaryan's long-range strike forced Timon Wellenreuther to make a crucial save, turning the ball around the post. However, Feyenoord failed to heed the warning, ultimately paying the price.

Just five minutes later, Feyenoord's struggles deepened as Marcus Thuram embarked on a breathtaking solo run, culminating in a powerful strike into the top corner to give Inter the lead.

Despite Feyenoord's desperate need for goals, Inter continued to dictate the pace of the game, creating scoring opportunities. Thuram's second impressive run almost yielded another goal, but he opted to set up Mehdi Taremi on the edge of the area. However, Timon Wellenreuther made a crucial save to deny Taremi's stinging drive.

Feyenoord had been largely ineffective in the first half, but they were handed a glimmer of hope five minutes before the break. Hakan Calhanoglu's foul on Jakub Moder in the area earned Feyenoord a penalty. Moder stepped up and converted the spot-kick, moving Feyenoord within two goals on aggregate. This strike made Moder one of only two players, alongside Nordi Mukiele, to score against Inter's formidable defence in European competition this season.

Marcus Thuram 🥇#UCL pic.twitter.com/K06ZgWwAmf

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2025

It would be unfair to say that referee Ivan Kruzliak 'evened things up' after the break, but he did award Inter a penalty within five minutes of the restart. Thomas Beelen's foul on Mehdi Taremi inside the area led to the spot-kick, which Hakan Calhanoglu converted with a low shot to Timon Wellenreuther's left, redeeming his earlier mistake.

Inter thought they had another penalty when Marcus Thuram went down under a challenge from Beelen, and the referee initially pointed to the spot. However, after consulting the pitchside monitor, Kruzliak instead booked Thuram for simulation. Thuram nearly made amends moments later, beating three defenders on his way into the area and rattling an effort against the underside of the crossbar.

Thuram's miss ultimately proved inconsequential, as Inter coasted into the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2022/23 season, when they reached the final. In contrast, Feyenoord's disappointment continued, as they extended their winless run away to Italian opposition in European competition to nine matches.