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Inter Milan marched to the semifinals of the Europa League after seeing off Bayer Leverkusen in an entertaining 2-1 victory in Dusseldorf.
Nicolo Barella opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a wonderful outside-of-the-boot finishing before Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead soon after.
Kai Havertz, who's heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, reduced the deficit with a simple finish off a well-worked team move. But it failed to inspire Leverkusen to mount a comeback as they went off the boil in the second half.
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Inter Milan also had two penalty appeals go against them in either half. But it mattered little as Antonio Conte's side comfortably sailed through and will next face either FC Basel or Shakhtar Donetsk in the last-four in Cologne.
Here are the major talking points from the match:
Five talking points from Inter Milan's 2-1 Europa League quarterfinal win over Bayer Leverkusen:
#1: Frenetic game lost steam post-interval
Given the sheer amount of attacking quality in both camps, the game expectedly saw plenty of goalmouth action, especially in the opening stanza. Nicolo Barella, Romelu Lukaku, and Kai Havertz, all scored just nine minutes apart, as the match lived up to its post-match billing. Then there was the penalty incident too, further taking the entertainment quotient through the roof.
It was an absolutely rollicking affair heading into the break, but the second-half was rather damp. Leverkusen, who were second best for most of the game, went completely off the boil after the interval. Inter Milan were frustrated at the lack of cutting edge to finish off some half-chances. Lukaku, Eriksen, and Moses all came close to extending the lead for Inter Milan but were let down by disappointing finishes.
#2: No VAR madness, for a change
Ever since the Video Assistant Referee has been introduced, there's seldom a game that goes by without controversy. This game was one of them. The VAR was called into question on three occasions, and each time, the match official didn't err.
Kai Havertz's goal in the first-half was initially ruled out for no apparent reason, but later awarded after a quick check. However, the penalty incident that followed soon after needed more careful review on the pitchside monitor before being ruled out in another correct decision.
Daley Sinkgraven was penalised for a handball initially, but replays showed that the ball came off his shoulders, leading the referee to cancel the spot kick. In a repeat incident after the break, Christian Eriksen's handball inside Leverkusen's area saw another Inter Milan penalty rescinded.
For all the mayhem caused by incorrect decisions in recent games, it was a rather auspicious day for VAR.
#3: Leverkusen were sloppy in defence
One of the key reasons why Die Werkself missed out on a Champions Leagu place earlier this season in the Bundesliga was because of their lackluster defence. With 44 goals conceded, Petr Bosz's men were found out time and again at the back, and today was no different. Had Inter Milan only been slightly more clinical, the scoreline could have been more lopsided.
Too often, Leverkusen's defence appeared stretched out to the point that it left acres of space for the likes of Lukaku, Young and Sanchez to lay siege. The two centre-backs on the night, Edmond Tapsoba and Jonathan Tah, were in no man's land and also gave away possession in dangerous areas on numerous occasions.
#4: Romelu Lukaku packed a punch
What a season he's having! Romelu Lukaku found his shooting boots again after swapping Manchester United for Inter Milan last summer, netting 29 times in all competitions heading into the tie. Make that 30 after tonight, for he once again reigned supreme and was on target for Inter Milan.
The strapping Belgian outmuscled, outpaced and outclassed the Leverkusen defence with his physicality and aerial prowess. He was the most threatening player on the field with six shots attempted and also completed 92% of his passes.
Lukaku's goal in the first half demonstrated his insane finishing skills as he fought off a challenge from Tapsoba before managing to nudge the ball through the legs of Hradecky despite losing his balance.
He could've easily had a hat-trick on another day, but his superlative performance tonight reminded why he's one of the best strikers at the moment.
#5: Inter Milan issue title warning
Antonio Conte's team were formidable on the night and thoroughly deserved to go through to their first European semifinal in exactly a decade.
The fact that Inter Milan sailed through without much hassle despite having two penalty decisions overruled is a testament to their performance, an ominous warning to anyone with title aspirations.
With just two games separating the side from a European trophy, the Nerazzurri are firm favorites to lift the prize. Sevilla and Manchester United can be tough prospects if they reach the final, but in the last two games, Inter Milan have shown that they are no pushovers either.
