Inter Milan defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in Monday’s Europa League quarter-final in Dusseldorf, becoming the primary team through to the last four of a mini-tournament behind closed doors.
Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen as he tormented the Germans to lead his side into the Europa League semi-finals on Monday.
Nicolo Barella put Inter ahead after quarter-hour , driving the ball home after Lukaku’s shot was blocked, and 6 minutes later the Belgian got on the scoresheet when he displayed his strength by holding off defender Edmond Tapsoba before firing home.
Leverkusen winger Kai Havertz, reported to be a transfer target of Premier League club Chelsea, pulled a goal back for the Germans but it had been goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky who kept them within the game with a string of fine saves.
The win sets up a semi-final against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk or FC Basel of Switzerland, who meet on Tuesday
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After scoring what proved to be the winner, Lukaku could have had a second goal when Inter were awarded a penalty for handball, but that harsh decision against Leverkusen was overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Tapsoba struggled all night to contain the physicality of 27-year-old Lukaku, who set a record by scoring in nine straight Europa League games, and within the last half the centre-back resorted to hacking the striker down on variety of occasions.
Seeking their first trophy since a 2011 Coppa Italia triumph, Inter sent on Alexis Sanchez within the second half and he had two excellent efforts blocked by last-ditch defending.
Lukaku was again denied a spot kick by VAR after an Inter player was discovered to possess handled just before Christian Eriksen was bundled over within the box, and he fired a late shot wide struggling from Tapsoba as Inter survived for victory.
Lukaku showed many humility after his dominant performance, saying: “To me, the person of the match is Nicolo Barella. The way he plays football is solely incredible – maturity, quality. He is truly a great player
