Inter Milan has progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in over ten years, after a defensive masterclass against Porto. The Nerazzurri managed to survive a late surge of pressure to escape Estadio do Dragao with a 0-0 draw, resulting in a 1-0 aggregate win on Tuesday.
Under the leadership of Simone Inzaghi, the Italian team joined city rivals AC Milan as the first two Italians to reach the last eight stage. Porto tried their best to force extra time, but their efforts were in vain as they hit the woodwork twice in the dying moments of the game. Their chances were further damaged as they ended the game with 10 men following the sending off of Pepe.
0- Inter progressed from a Champions League knockout stage without conceding a goal in both the first leg and second leg for the first time since 2009/10 (against CSKA Moscow in the quarter-finals). Wall.#PortoInter pic.twitter.com/hlbZXcj7Nc
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 14, 2023
Porto fans were left disappointed as they watched their team's efforts come to nothing at a sold-out Dragao stadium. At full-time, many home players dropped to their knees in tears while the Inter players cheered and congratulated each other as they celebrated their first appearance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2011.
The last time both Milan sides made it to this stage of the competition was in 2005-06. With Inter and AC Milan already qualifying, Napoli has the opportunity to make it three Italian teams in the quarter-finals for the first time ever on Wednesday, as they faced Frankfurth at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
