Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti can still recall the team’s 3-1 win over Porto in the Champions League during the 2004-05 season.
Speaking to UEFA TV, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive and former captain looked back on that match and noted the importance of hattrick hero Adriano.
Inter faced the same opponent in the round of sixteen during the 2004-05 campaign as they do this time around in the form of Porto.
The Nerazzurri got the better of that tie, having drawn the first leg and then beaten the Portuguese side 3-1 in the reverse leg at San Siro.
Even though the Nerazzurri ended up being eliminated by city rivals AC Milan in the next round of the competition, by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0 no less, it was still a great European night at San Siro, highlighted by a brilliant individual display by Adriano.
“The 1 -1 draw in the first leg was positive for us, we knew that in the second leg reaching the next round would be in our hands,” Zanetti looked back at the tie.
“It was a team of great men, with great quality, and strikers who could make the difference at any moment,” the Argentine continued.
Of legendary former Nerazzurri striker Adriano, Zanetti said that “He dragged us along in that match, he was a brilliant player.”
Of the Brazillian, Zanetti said that “He had great power, physical strength, and technical quality, a very strong left-footed player.”