Inter’s Arnautovic Late Strike Sinks Atletico at San Siro
Marko Arnautovic missed several sitters, but eventually gave Inter a precious 1-0 first leg Champions League Round of 16 lead over Atletico Madrid.
The second leg is at the Wanda Metropolitano on March 13.
The Nerazzurri had won all eight competitive games in 2024 and missed only Francesco Acerbi and Juan Cuadrado, so Stefan de Vrij stepped in. Former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata was only fit for the bench after spraining his knee on February 11, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Thomas Lemar out of action, so Marco Llorente moved to a centre-forward role.
Inter wore black armbands and there was a moment’s silence in honour of Scudetto winner Andy Brehme, who died yesterday at the age of 63.
Marcus Thuram’s first touch let him down on an early Nicolò Barella roll across, while Samuel Lino curled wide and a Lautaro Martinez volley was deflected onto the arm of Nahuel Molina in a position the referee considered to be natural.
Elsewhere, PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund play out a 1-1 draw to still leave the second leg of the Last 16 open.
Dortmund’s Donyell Malen got the front in the 24 minutes before Luuk de Jong equalised for the hosts in the 56th minute of the clash .
RESULTS
Inter 1-0 Atletico
PSV 1-1 Dortmund
TODAY
FC Porto v Arsenal
Napoli v Barcelona
