Inter Milan took a slender lead in their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 win at San Siro on Tuesday night. Marko Arnautovic scored the only goal of the game in the 79th minute, after coming off the bench to replace the injured Marcus Thuram.
Inter dominate but struggle to break down Atletico
Inter Milan were the dominant side throughout the match, creating more chances and having more possession than their Spanish opponents. Lautaro Martinez was a constant threat for the hosts, forcing Jan Oblak into several saves with his headers and shots. Hakan Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also tested the Atletico goalkeeper with their long-range efforts.
However, Inter found it hard to break down Atletico’s well-organized defense, which was led by the experienced duo of Axel Witsel and Jose Gimenez. The visitors were content to sit back and soak up the pressure, hoping to hit Inter on the counter-attack with the pace and skill of Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente.
Arnautovic makes the difference with late strike
The game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, until Inter made a decisive substitution in the second half. Marko Arnautovic, who had missed several chances earlier, replaced Thuram in the 72nd minute and made an immediate impact. The former West Ham and Stoke forward scored his first Champions League knockout goal with a powerful finish from a tight angle, after Oblak had parried Martinez’s shot into his path.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Inter players and fans, who sensed a vital advantage in the tie. Atletico tried to respond, but they could not trouble Yann Sommer, who kept his 21st clean sheet of the season. Alvaro Morata, who came on as a late substitute after recovering from a knee injury, had a penalty appeal turned down by the referee in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Inter in pole position for quarter-finals
The result gives Inter a slight edge in the tie, as they will travel to Madrid for the second leg on March 13 with a one-goal lead. The Italian side, who are nine points clear at the top of Serie A, will be confident of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011. They will also hope to avoid a repeat of last season’s heartbreak, when they lost the final to Manchester City.
Atletico, on the other hand, will need to produce a much better performance at home to keep their hopes of winning the Champions League alive. The Spanish side, who are second in La Liga, have reached the final twice in the last decade, but have lost both times to their city rivals Real Madrid. They will need to show more attacking intent and creativity in the second leg, as well as keeping Inter’s dangerous forwards at bay.