Porto: Inter Milan drew a stalemate at Porto 0-0 to advance into the Champions League quarterfinals after winning the first leg 1-0 at the San Siro.
The game was a stalemate with little being created from both sides but there was a defensive masterclass on display by the Italians which allowed them to progress in the last 8 of the Champions league.
Match Preview
Simone Inzaghi is in the firing line as his Inter Milan side travels to Porto trying to make the last eight of the Champions League and turn a depressing tide of bad results away from home. Friday’s 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Spezia was the latest poor effort away from the San Siro and left Inter once again 18 points behind champions-elect Napoli.
Inzaghi and his team were booed and insulted by the Inter fans present at the Stadio Picco, who had to watch the son of AC Milan icon Paolo Maldini slot home the opening goal.
Inter has only held on to second place in Italy’s top flight thanks to Lazio failing to win at Bologna on Saturday, but its bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League is being damaged by their dreadful away form.
The game at Porto
Porto had the better of the game but only managed to test Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana on a few occasions and failed to make the last eight for the third time in their last five attempts. Their finest chances came in stoppage time in the end when Mehdi Taremi and Marko Grujic both hit the woodwork and Marcano had an effort cleared off the line.
Porto’s first clear chance of the game arrived deep in stoppage time when Marcano’s effort was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries. The Portuguese side struck the woodwork twice in an agonizing finale, with Onana pushing Taremi’s header onto the post before Grujic nodded against the crossbar.
“In the second half we were better, more possession and more opportunities — I still can’t believe the ball didn’t go in,” Grujic said.”The fans were supportive and it was good to see that they understood that we gave everything. We really wanted to win the game.
