FC Internazionale Milano

Road To Semifinals

For many, Inter began this competition as outsiders in Group C, and destined for the Europa League Play-offs.  However, the games aren’t played on paper, they’re played on the pitch.  As such, we quickly realized two things.  First, that Xavi’s economic ‘lever’ induced squad wasn’t yet up to the task of taking on Europa’s elite.  And secondly, Inter had the look of a proper team, with grit and flashes of guile in its play, reminiscent of their Serie A Title winning season in 2020-21.  The Snakes have leaders on every level that are either in or still near ones prime.  The three-headed monster at the back in Stefan De Vrij, Milan Skriniar, and Alessandro Bastoni combined with midfielding dynamos Nicolo Barella and Marcelo Brozovic set the edgy tone for this Inter side which enjoys physically dominating their opponents, something that proved effective in the two matches against Barcelona.  A win and a draw against the Blaugrana was effectively the difference in Inter securing second place in Group C, and advancing to the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Once the draw was made for the Round of 16, and later the Quarterfinal and Semifinal bracket, it became clear that Inter had a realistic chance of making a run to the UCL Final in Istanbul.  The Snakes dispatched FC Porto in a feisty 1-0 aggregate result over two legs that saw the Portuguese outfit reduced to 10 men in each match.  Then in the quarterfinals, Inter faced one of Porto’s domestic rivals, SL Benfica.  Prior to the turn of April, the Eagles hadn’t lost a match all season in either Liga Portugal or the Champions League.  They even finished first in Group H ahead of Paris SG.  But as luck would have it, Benfica finally hit a wall, as they lost to Porto just days before facing Inter in the 1st leg of the quarterfinals.  As such, the Snakes would take advantage of the Eagles’ wounded psyche in route to a 2-0 win in Lisbon.  That was followed up with yesterday's enthralling 3-3 draw at the San Siro, more than enough to push Inter Milano into the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time since the club’s famed Treble winning campaign in 2009-10.

Players To Watch

In addition to the aforementioned tone-setters, strikers Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez will play a pivotal role in the semis.  The much maligned Lukaku has delivered time and again since donning the blue and black stripes.  In his first stint with Inter, Lukaku was the catalyst in the Snakes’ push to win Serie A for the first time in over a decade.  As such, he won Serie A Most Valuable Player and Serie A Footballer of the Year.  This time around, whilst not as prolific or as physically fit, Lukaku has still found a way to produce when Inter has needed him most.  The big Belgian scored the lone goal in the Porto tie, as well as netting in the first leg of the quarters against Benfica.  Also, in the Coppa Italia, Lukaku has been crucial, as he scored against rivals Juventus in the first leg of the semifinals.

As for Martinez, he’s in the midst of what seems like a fantasy of a season.  He’s scored 14 league goals, which is good for second in Serie A this term.  In addition, he’s already collected a winner’s medal for Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar, and now he’s just three matches away from winning the Champions League.  What an incredible feat that’d be for him if Inter were to win the UCL.  I don’t now of many players that have accomplished a World Cup/Champions League Double before.