Following a hard-fought second leg, it was Inter Milan who progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League last night following a 0-0 draw with Porto.
While it may have been a goalless draw, that certainly didn’t tell the full story of the game. It was a fascinating encounter in Portugal with both sides giving it their all, but ultimately, the Italians made it through by the skin of their teeth.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at a few of our big takeaways from the contest.
Porto push the pace
They may not have been able to get the job done, but Porto proved that they belong at the elite level last night. They had 68% possession, 21 shots on goal, and they hit the woodwork twice in a dramatic final few minutes. The hosts were missing a few key players, they were behind on aggregate from the first leg, and yet they had a real composure about them right up until a late red card sealed the deal.
Inter hold on
Andre Onana really earned his place as Milan’s number one last night. He had to produce a handful of vital saves, especially in the second half, in order to keep their noses in front. A late goal and 30 minutes of extra time could’ve easily been the nail in the coffin for the visitors, but they weren’t about to let that happen. They showcased real determination and for that, they’ve earned their spot in the last eight.
Italy rises
Inter will join AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea and Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Tonight, Real Madrid or Liverpool will join them, as well as Napoli or Eintracht Frankfurt. If Napoli can hold on to their 2-0 advantage, we’ll see three Italian clubs in the quarters – the most of any nation. If that isn’t proof that this country is back to its best, then we don’t know what is.
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