March 05, (THEWILL) – Inter Milan delivered a winning performance in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match, defeating Feyenoord 2-0 at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez spearheaded the Italian side’s decisive victory, demonstrating the team’s European pedigree.
Thuram broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, converting a precise cross from Nicolo Barella with a clinical close-range finish. The France international’s strategic positioning and sharp finishing set the tone for Inter’s dominant display. Five minutes into the second half, Martinez extended the lead, further solidifying Inter’s commanding position in the knockout stage.
Despite Inter’s convincing performance, a missed opportunity arose when Timon Wellenreuther, Feyenoord’s goalkeeper, saved a penalty from Piotr Zielinski after Jeyland Mitchell was judged to have fouled Thuram. The save provided a minor reprieve for the Dutch side, offering a glimmer of hope ahead of the return leg at San Siro.
Martinez continued to make history in the competition, scoring his sixth goal this season and bringing his total UCL tally to 18 – the most by any Inter player in the tournament’s history. The Argentine forward has demonstrated exceptional form, turning this campaign into his most prolific in the prestigious European competition.
The result continues Inter’s impressive record against Dutch opponents, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 matches against teams from the Netherlands. For Feyenoord and new coach Robin van Persie, the match proved challenging, marking the first time since 1978 that the team has failed to score in the first two matches under a new manager.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
