MILAN – Inter did their job and comfortably progressed to the Round of 16 stage of the Europa League without ever looking in danger. The second-leg clash between the Nerazzurri and Rapid Vienna finished 4-0 to Spalletti’s team seven days on from Inter’s 1-0 win in Vienna. Goals from Vecino, Ranocchia, Perisic and Politano at San Siro ensured that it finished 5-0 on aggregate to the Nerazzurri. Tomorrow at 13:00 CET, Inter will find out who they’ll play in the next round when the draw, which will be broadcast live on Inter TV and our official YouTube channel, takes place in Nyon.
Inter took the lead with their first big chance of the game: in the 11th minute, Brozovic found Perisic deep in Rapid Vienna’s half before Vecino lashed home the Croatian’s cross following Candreva’s miscue. The Nerazzurri then doubled their lead and practically sealed the tie seven minutes later as Ranocchia scored a wonderful volley from the edge of the box. Immediately after, the Austrians went in search of a goal to get back into the tie, but Pavlovic fired wide with his left foot from a great position following a mistake in Inter’s backline. Inter threatened once again in the 26th minute: Perisic found the onrushing Brozovic after a quick Inter counter-attack, but the latter could only shoot over the bar. In the 33rd minute, Perisic was denied by Strebinger after he had accelerated down the left. Just a few seconds before half-time, the Nerazzurri came close again: Candreva fired over with the goal at his mercy after Strebinger was unable to hold Perisic’s strike. The two teams then went into the break with Inter 2-0 ahead.
The teams came back out unchanged for the second half. In the 53rd minute, Ranocchia almost scored his second when he got his head to a Brozovic cross but it went off target. Not long after, Lautaro had a header from a Brozovic corner but Strebinger saved in the middle of his goal. In the 57th minute, the visitors went on the attack when Ljubicic went off by himself but Skriniar did a great job to close him down in the box. In the 69th minute, Perisic got away in the Austrian box but he couldn’t keep the shot on target. Handanovic made his first save of the game in the 73rd minute when Ljubicic had a go from outside the area. Inter continued to push until the final whistle. In the 76th minute, Candreva was dangerous and that chance led to a Borja Valero shot from the edge of the area but his aim was off. San Siro was applauding Skriniar when he was replaced by Miranda before they were up on their feet again after a piece of magic from Perisic. The Croatian rounded the Rapid goalkeeper before avoiding the defender on the line with a sublime chip. That’s wasn’t it. Three minutes later, Perisic received the ball from Nainggolan and squared it for Politano who turned home with his left to make it 4-0. Nainggolan had a chance to add a fifth in stoppage time with a spectacular volley from Politano’s cross. After two minutes of stoppage time, the whistle went and the Nerazzurri progressed to the Round of 16 in the Europa League.
Focus now turns straight back to the league and Sunday night’s match at the Franchi against Stefano Pioli’s Fiorentina side.
#ForzaInter!
INTER 4-0 RAPID VIENNA
Goals: 11' Vecino (I), 18' Ranocchia (I), 80' Perisic (I), 87' Politano (I)
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 21 Cedric, 13 Ranocchia, 37 Skriniar (77'23 Miranda), 18 Asamoah; 8 Vecino, 77 Brozovic (62' 20 Borja Valero); 87 Candreva, 14 Nainggolan, 44 Perisic; 10 Lautaro (66' 16 Politano)
Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 6 De Vrij, 33 D'Ambrosio, 66 Adorante
Coach: Luciano Spalletti
RAPID VIENNA: 1 Strebinger; 19 Potzmann, 6 Sonnleitner, 20 Hofmann, 5 Bolingoli (75' 7 Schobesberger); 39 Ljubicic,14 Grahovac; 10 Murg, 28 Knasmullner (64' 8 Schwab), 97 Ivan (64' 3 Muldur); 22 Pavlovic
Substitutes: 21 Knoflach, 23 Thurnwald, 24 Auer, 29 Alar
Coach: Dietmar Kuhbauer
Bookings: Asamoah (I), Hofmann (R), Ranocchia (I)
Stoppage time: 0' + 2'
Referee: Artur Dias
Assistants: Rui Tavares, Paulo Soares
Additional assistant referees: Tiago Martins, João Pinheiro
Fourth official: Bruno Rodrigues
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