Inter won the first leg of the 2022/2023 Round Of Last 16 Champions League clash at a packed San Siro after Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute.

The Nerazzurri started the match well, in a high tempo, creating problems for Porto and should have been a goal up had Lautaro Martinez not squandered a free header from close range.

Porto worked themselves into the match by disrupting the rhythm of the match as well as making fouls to unsettle Simone Inzaghi’s men, which they succeeded with in all honesty.

In the second half, Porto started better and created quite e few chances but every time Man Of The Match André Onana stood in the way. Especially during a confused sequence where he made three or four saves in a row to keep it goalless.

However, when Simone Inzaghi brought on first Romelu Lukaku but more importantly Marcelo Brozovic Inter dominated completely, aided by Porto’s Otavio getting himself sent off.

Despite creating several clear cut chances Inter looked to be going to a disappointing draw until Romelu Lukaku capped off a good performance by scoring his own rebound header off the post, with a distinct volley for the only goal of the game.

André Onana – 8: Makes a sequence of decisive saves keeping Inter level which turn out to be match winning. By far best performance since joining club. MOTM.

Milan Skriniar – 6: Didn’t have his best game, in fact never really got into the game. Especially his timing in the air was a fraction of a second off all night.

Francesco Acerbi – 7: Very impressive performance by the veteran at the heart of the Nerazzurri defence controlling and leading the back-line with authority.

Alessandro Bastoni – 6,5: The defensive side if his game is a weakness but shows he’s worked on it, but tonight his offence let him down, particularly his crosses.

Matteo Darmian – 7: Classic Mr Dependable performance by the handyman. Is never a 10 but more importantly never lower than a 6 when it matters.

Nicolo Barella – 6,5: Frustrated and frustrating to watch where he never really got into the rhythm of the game, but that doesn’t stop him from working hard.

Hakan Calhanoglu – 6,5: Has improved so much as a player this season in every aspect but when Inter chasing a goal he shows that his composure can improve.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 6: Disappointing performance by the Armenian who truth be told looked a bit tired and worn out. Luckily, Inter can now grant him that rest.

Federico Dimarco – 6,5: His brilliant deliveries should have led to at least one goal, especially in the first half. Tired in the second half but no shame in that.

Edin Dzeko – 4,5: Abysmal performance in a match where he shouldn’t have started as it simply didn’t suit him at all. Was in no-man’s land until came off.

Lautaro Martinez – 6: He can’t keep missing sitters like this in important matches, the free-header he skied in the first half a perfect example of that.

Romelu Lukaku – 7: Replaced Dzeko in the 58th minute and looked more fit than in last 18 months. Worked so hard and rewarded by scoring winning goal.

Robin Gosens – 6,5: Came on for Dimarco in the 58th minute and had a decent to good outing, particularly in defence where he didn’t let man or ball past him.

Marcelo Brozovic – 7: Substituted on in the 72nd minute for Mkhitaryan and was the reason why Inter immediately dominated and created dangerous chances.

Denzel Dumfries – N/A: Brought on in the 81st minute for Skriniar. Didn’t play long enough to be able to be rated.

Simone Inzaghi – 7: High rating is for reading the game correctly and making the right substitutions at the exact right time allowing Inter to go home with win.

Srdjan Jovanovic – 6: Not a very commanding referee and at times had the authority of an overwhelmed substitute junior school teacher hoping for the best.

Inter – 6,5: Nowhere near a good enough performance over the 90 minutes but what matters is how team reacted putting in extra gear & winning.

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