UCL: Inter Milan Take Commanding Lead with 2-0 Win Over Feyenoord

Inter Milan secured a 2-0 win over Feyenoord in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, taking a commanding lead into the return leg.

Inter Milan has taken a significant step towards the quarterfinals, securing a 2-0 victory over Feyenoord Rotterdam in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. This win extends Inter's unbeaten run against Dutch teams in European competitions to 12 matches.

Feyenoord, who had already eliminated AC Milan from the Champions League this season, aimed to replicate that success against Inter. They nearly made a perfect start, catching Inter off guard and forcing goalkeeper Josep Martinez into action within the first five minutes as Ibrahim Osman tested his resolve. However, Inter struggled to assert their dominance in the opening 45 minutes.

Despite their initial struggles, Inter was gifted an opportunity on the half-hour mark. Marcus Thurman broke free behind the defense and squared the ball to Lautan Martinez, but a sensational last-ditch block denied what would have been a certain goal. This temporary reprieve for Feyenoord was short-lived, as Inter took the lead just before halftime. Nicolo Barella orchestrated the move, delivering a precise cross to the back post, where Thurman acrobatically scored with a impressive volley.

Inter came close to doubling their advantage, but Lautaro Martinez's effort was this time thwarted by Timon Wellenreuther, who made a crucial save to keep Feyenoord's deficit at one goal.

Martinez's perseverance paid off, however, as he finally found the back of the net within five minutes of the restart. The Argentine striker capitalized on a loose ball in the area, firing a shot high into the roof of the net to extend Inter's lead. With a two-goal deficit, Feyenoord's chances of a comeback were dwindling, and the tie seemed to be slipping away from them.

Feyenoord's frustrations were compounded when Marcus Thuram went down in the area, although it appeared that the Inter player may have been seeking a penalty rather than genuinely being fouled.

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— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 5, 2025

Jeyland Mitchell was the Feyenoord player deemed to have committed the foul on Marcus Thuram, and he initially thought he had escaped punishment. However, a swift VAR review confirmed that Mitchell had indeed fouled the Frenchman, resulting in a penalty being awarded to Inter.

Piotr Zielinski took on the responsibility of converting the penalty, but his effort into the bottom left corner was impressively saved by Timon Wellenreuther. Just minutes later, Feyenoord believed they should have been awarded a penalty of their own when Ayase Ueda went down in the area under a challenge from Stefan de Vrij. However, referee Espen Eskas remained unmoved, denying Feyenoord's appeals.

Lautaro 🌟#UCL pic.twitter.com/9wIADvm8Xp

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 5, 2025

In the closing stages, Feyenoord launched a desperate push to score a goal that would have given them added momentum ahead of the away leg. Unfortunately for the Dutch side, they were unable to find the back of the net, leaving them with a significant challenge in the reverse fixture. Inter's formidable home record in the Champions League, which has seen them remain unbeaten since September 2022, will only add to Feyenoord's daunting task.