On Tuesday February 20, Inter took an option on qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Italians beat Atlético de Madrid 1-0 to secure their 9th consecutive success in all competitions in 2024. In the evening's other match, PSV Eindhoven and Dortmund drew 1-1.
Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram have carried Inter at arm's length since the start of the season. Before this Champions League Round of 16 encounter, the two strikers had a combined tally of 42 goals + assists in 2023-2024. But on Tuesday, against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, another man came to the fore: Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian striker scored the only goal of the game to give the Inter side victory.
Tactically, both teams have the same set-up: a 3-5-2 formation that can be converted into a 5-3-2 in the defensive phase. This made for a very tight encounter. The first shot on target of the match came in the 37th minute when Pavard's cross was headed in by Lautaro Martinez, but Oblak made no mistake. Marcus-Thuram and Martinez followed up with two more clear-cut chances, both of which fell short. No goals were scored in the first half.
In the second half, the injured Marcu Thuram gave way to Marko Arnautović. Arnautović squandered a number of chances before delivering the winner in the 80th minute. When Lautaro Martinez's shot was parried by Oblak, the No.8 turned in a left-foot shot to open the scoring. The Giuseppe Meazza stadium went wild. It was to be the only goal of the game.Last season's Champions League finalists, Inter take a slight advantage for a place in the quarter-finals.
Le but d'Arnautovic pour l'Inter face à l'Atlético 🔵⚫️
LA FOLIE À GIUSEPPE-MEAZZA 😱#INTATM | #UCL pic.twitter.com/o5zu8Fu2zn
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) February 20, 2024
