Inter Milan vs Shakhtar Donetsk: 5 Hits and Flops | Europa League 2019-20

Hit: Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

Romelu Lukaku just cannot stop scoring.

Blimey, do you even recognise this guy? Romelu Lukaku has been on a roll since switching Manchester United for Inter Milan last summer, firing goals left, right and centre.

Having struck in each of his last nine games in the competition, the burly Belgian continued his hot streak by bagging two more to take his tally to 33 for the season.

18 - Romelu Lukaku has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 10 UEFA Europa League matches (14 goals & 4 assists). The Belgian striker has scored in a record 10 successive games in the competition. Streak. pic.twitter.com/oFn0lybiXI

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 17, 2020

Until the 75th minute, it looked as if Lukaku's record of netting in nine consecutive Europa League games was coming to an end,as he couldn't carve out clear-cut chances. However, he put all doubts to bed with a quickfire double.

Most goals in a debut season for Inter ⬇️🇧🇷 Ronaldo: 34🇧🇪 Lukaku: 33𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛?#UEL #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/68p38DQOcZ

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 17, 2020

Lukaku's first was an unstoppable outside-of-the-boot finish from a tight angle, but his second was simply sensational as he waltzed up a few yards before firing from underneath Andriy Pyatov to add more gloss to the scoreline.

He's going to take some stopping from Sevilla in the final.

Flop: Shakhtar Donetsk's attack

The Ukrainian side managed just one shot on target all night.

It had more to do with Inter Milan's stoic defending than Shakhtar's terrible attacking, for they were completely nullified with some brilliant work at the back from the Italian side.

The Miners, who dominated possession, weren't penetrative with their passes and failed to convert their plays into chances. Most of their juices flowed down the right, with Dodo running towards the byline to get a low cross in, while Marlos moved inside into a more central position.

Junior Moraes, the striker with 22 goals for the season, looked like a pale shadow of his self, devoid of any service upfront. But when he did receive one, he headed his effort tamely at Samir Handanovic as he missed a great opportunity to equalise for Shakhtar Donestsk.

Hit: Inter Milan's set-piece ability

Inter Milan struck from a set-piece again.

The Nerazzurri have been really menacing from set-pieces this season, netting 15 times from such situations. Cross that and make it 16 after another one on the night against Shakhtar Donestsk.

Marcelo Brozovic played in a corner which Danilo D'Ambrosio, who's often positioned at the back post during corners, headed into the back of the net with little hesitation.

Set-pieces have become Inter Milan's secret sauce in finding crucial goals, and this could play a part in the final against Sevilla who've proved to be tough to score against from open play in the Europa League this season.