Led by their ingenious storm duo Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan stormed into the final of the Europa League and will take their first international title in ten years there on Friday. (Europa League: Final FC Sevilla – Inter Milan on Friday from 9 p.m. in LIVETICKER)
The strong Italian top club easily defeated Ukrainian champions Shakhtjar Donezk 5-0 (1-0) in the semifinals in Düsseldorf and faced the Europa League record winner FC Sevilla in the final in Cologne. The Spaniards eliminated top favorites Manchester United (2-1) in their semi-finals on Sunday. (Europa League schedule and results)
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Striker Martínez (19th) brought Inter, who had given Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen no chance in the quarterfinals, into the lead. The goal, however, was helped by a gross mistake by Shakhtjar goalkeeper Andrij Pyatov, who, under distress, played the ball right into Nicolo Barella’s feet. Martínez, allegedly courted by FC Barcelona, headed his flank into the goal. Danilo D’Ambrosio (64th), again Martínez (74th) and twice Lukaku (78th and 84th) made everything clear. (The game for reading in the ticker)
Martínez and Lukaku miss further opportunities
The Milanese, who won the Champions League in 2010 by beating FC Bayern Munich in the final, had the dreaded Ukrainian offensive firmly under control. Although Shakhtjar had more possession of the ball, the team that had defeated VfL Wolfsburg in the round of 16 did not come close to the opposing goal.
It is telling that Donetsk’s first dangerous action was a long-range shot by Marcos Antonio – but 43 minutes had already been played.
However, Inter was by no means limited to administering the lead. Martínez and his congenial partner Lukaku had a chance to increase right at the beginning of the second half. Overall, Milan was much closer to the second goal in this phase than Donetsk to equalize.
To Inter? Messi rumors
Rather, Shakhtjar could hardly think of anything to bring the ripped-off Italians, who were brilliantly set by coach Antonio Conte, into distress. “It seemed like an easy game to us. But it only seemed so easy because we played very well and were perfectly prepared,” said Conte DAZN.
On Monday there were again media reports that Inter were working to bring superstar Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona to Milan. The six-time world footballer had already bought in Penthouse in Milan, Messi did not see his future, it was said, with FC Barcelona, which was outclassed in Bayern Munich’s Champion League.
Inter was not distracted by these speculations on the pitch. The Nerazzurri determined the game – and then all of a sudden allowed a big chance. Junior Moraes (62nd) forgave this miserably. Immediately afterwards, D’Ambrosio scored from a corner, Martínez and Lukaku removed any remaining doubts. The Belgian Lukaku thus extended his record: He has now scored ten games in a row in the Europa League.
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