Inter beat Feyenoord 2-0 for first-leg advantage in Champions League
Feyenoord vs Inter
Inter Milan secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie on Wednesday, with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez delivering the decisive blows at the Stadion Feijenoord. The Italian giants, despite facing a spirited Feyenoord side that looked the more dangerous outfit for much of the first half, showcased their clinical edge to take a significant step toward the quarterfinals. Thuram’s acrobatic volley in the 38th minute, a goal that came against the run of play, shifted the momentum firmly in Inter’s favor, while Martinez’s sublime strike into the top corner shortly after halftime doubled their advantage. The result sets up a tantalizing return leg in Milan on Tuesday, where the winners will earn a clash with either Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen for a coveted spot in the semifinals. For Inter, a club with a storied European pedigree—having lifted the trophy three times, most recently in 2010—this performance underlined their knockout credentials, even if it wasn’t always a display of dominance. Meanwhile, Feyenoord, under the guidance of new manager Robin van Persie in his Champions League managerial debut, were left with a steep hill to climb if they are to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since the 1971-72 season.
The match began with Inter asserting their authority through possession, a hallmark of their Serie A-leading campaign, as they controlled the ball in the opening exchanges and looked to impose their rhythm on the game. However, Feyenoord, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, quickly turned the tide with a series of incisive counter-attacks that exposed vulnerabilities in Inter’s backline. The Dutch side’s intent was clear early on when Ibrahim Osman tested Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez with a low, driven shot at the near post, forcing the Spaniard into a sharp save within the opening minutes. Feyenoord’s pace and directness on the break troubled Inter, whose early dominance in possession lacked the necessary precision to convert their control into clear-cut chances. The Serie A leaders, while technically proficient, appeared disjointed at times, their passes going astray and their attacking movements failing to click against a well-organized Feyenoord defense. For much of the first half, it was the hosts who carried the greater threat, their energy and aggression suggesting they might break the deadlock first. Yet, football often hinges on moments of individual brilliance, and Inter found theirs just before the interval to turn the game on its head.
The opening goal arrived in the 38th minute, a moment of magic that showcased Inter’s ability to strike even when not at their fluid best. Nicolò Barella, the heartbeat of Inter’s midfield, sparked the move with a searching, long cross from the right flank that sailed over the Feyenoord defense. Marcus Thuram, the French forward whose athleticism and versatility have been vital to Inter’s campaign, met the delivery with an acrobatic volley at close range. The finish, executed with a blend of power and precision, left Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther with no chance as the ball flashed into the net. It was a goal that defied the flow of the game, lifting Inter’s spirits and silencing the home crowd just as Feyenoord appeared to be gaining the upper hand. Thuram’s strike, born from a superb team move, underscored the quality within Inter’s ranks—a reminder that even on an off day, they possess players capable of producing decisive moments. The goal not only gave Inter the lead but also injected a surge of confidence into their play, setting the stage for a more assertive showing after the break.
That newfound momentum carried over into the second half, where Inter wasted little time in doubling their advantage. Five minutes after the restart, Lautaro Martinez, Inter’s talismanic captain, etched his name into the club’s history books with a goal of exquisite quality. The Argentine striker, fed by a clever interplay in the attacking third, unleashed a ferocious shot from just inside the box that rocketed into the top corner, leaving Wellenreuther helpless. It was Martinez’s sixth goal in this season’s Champions League, a tally that reflects his growing stature in the competition, and his 18th overall for Inter in Europe’s premier club tournament—surpassing all previous Inter players to become the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League. The strike was a testament to Martinez’s predatory instincts and technical brilliance, a moment of individual class that put Inter in firm control of the tie. For the Nerazzurri faithful, it was a fitting milestone for a player who has been the cornerstone of their recent successes, his leadership and goal-scoring prowess driving them toward another deep run in the competition they last won under José Mourinho 15 years ago.
Feyenoord, however, refused to capitulate entirely, and they came agonizingly close to pulling a goal back when Jakub Moder rattled the crossbar with a venomous effort from distance. The Polish midfielder’s strike, which beat Martínez but not the woodwork, was a fleeting glimpse of what might have been for the hosts, who continued to press despite falling two goals behind. Their persistence kept Inter on their toes, but the Serie A side could have put the tie beyond reach just after the hour mark when they were awarded a penalty. Thuram, a constant thorn in Feyenoord’s side, was fouled in the box, giving Inter a golden opportunity to make it 3-0. Piotr Zielinski, the Polish midfielder known for his reliability from the spot, stepped up, only to be outfoxed by Wellenreuther. The Feyenoord goalkeeper guessed correctly, diving to his right to parry Zielinski’s low shot and keep his team’s faint hopes alive. It was a rare moment of reprieve for Feyenoord, though it did little to alter the overarching narrative of Inter’s control, as the missed penalty proved to be the closest the visitors came to adding to their lead.
For Feyenoord, the 2-0 defeat marked a frustrating night in what was a historic occasion—Robin van Persie’s first Champions League match as a manager. The former Arsenal and Manchester United star, tasked with reviving Feyenoord’s fortunes on the European stage, saw his team compete admirably but ultimately fall short against a more ruthless opponent. The result leaves Feyenoord’s dreams of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals—a milestone they haven’t achieved since the 1971-72 season—hanging by a thread, their lack of cutting edge in the final third proving costly. Inter, by contrast, head back to Milan with a two-goal cushion, their direct qualification to the knockout stages after finishing fourth in the competition’s new league phase now looking like a springboard for further success. The Nerazzurri’s blend of defensive resilience and clinical finishing, even on a night when they were outplayed for spells, speaks to their pedigree as three-time European champions.
As the teams prepare for the return leg, Inter will be favored to advance, their experience and quality giving them the edge over a Feyenoord side that must now summon an extraordinary performance to overturn the deficit. Martinez and Thuram’s goals have handed Inter a platform to build on, while Josep Martínez’s early save and the team’s composure under pressure ensured they left Rotterdam with a clean sheet. For van Persie and Feyenoord, the task is daunting but not impossible—their first-half dominance showed they can trouble Inter, though they will need to marry that intent with greater precision in front of goal. The winners of this tie will face a stern test in the quarterfinals against either Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen, both of whom promise to bring their own brand of intensity to the next round. For now, though, Inter Milan hold the upper hand, their 2-0 triumph a statement of intent as they pursue a fourth European crown.
