By Goal.com News on Monday, 10 August 2020
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Inter vs Bayer Leverkusen

58' Leverkusen are pushing for an equaliser but the more they do, the more it leaves them vulnerable to that dreaded Inter counter. Diaby bustles into the box and can't decide whether to cross or shoot. Inter end up making the decision for him.

57' Leverkusen are preparing a substitution. It looks like Bailey is getting ready to come on.

55' Now Leverkusen go back on the attack. Havertz bears down on goal from the right of the box and wins a corner for the Germans. Inter counter quickly and Lukaku's shot rattles off a Leverkusen defender. There's a lively pace to this game.

53' Inter know that one more quality attack could see them through. Gagliardini has a shot blocked and it goes out for an Inter corner. Leverkusen get it away.

51' Diaby twists this way and that on the edge of Inter's box and powers into the box. The Frenchman is off balance though and can't keep his effort down.

49' Leverkusen make a lucky escape! Seconds after Lukaku is almost through on goal, Young darts down the left and crosses low. It loops up for Gagliardini who thumps a shot straight against Lukaku from a few yards out. Leverkusen clear. A third Inter goal now would likely kill this game.

47' Leverkusen are looking to assert themselves quickly now. They need a goal after all. Godin makes a great interception to prevent Volland getting through on goal and Bender goes in hard on Gagliardini, giving away a free-kick.

45' We're underway for the second half. No changes at half-time.

Lukaku has now scored in each of his last nine appearances in the UEFA Europa League (12 goals in total). He's the first player to have ever done that in the history of the competition. The Belgian's simply too good for this level. Leverkusen's chances in the second half depend on keeping him quiet. But can they?

Inter go in a goal to the good at half-time. The Italians pummelled Leverkusen for the first 20 minutes, going 2-0 up and threatening to score more. Leverkusen have muscled their way back into the game since Havertz pulled a quick goal back though. Leverkusen will be relieved to have had that penalty against Sinkgraven overturned.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: INTER 2-1 BAYER LEVERKUSEN

45' + 1' Bender plays a pass down the line for Havertz. Havertz wins the footrace with Bastoni but can't get anywhere. That'll be that for now.

45' Leverkusen go back on the attack and win a corner down their left. Diaby swings it in and it's headed out by Brozovic at the near post.

44' Inter's free-kick achieves little as Gagliardini quickly concedes a foul. There'll be one added minute in this half.

43' Inter look a tad frustrated at the moment. Conte is unhappy as Sinkgraven scythes Barella down on the right wing. 

41' Diaby's pass is too short and Brozovic nips in to win possession. Brozovic flicks a pass towards the onrushing Martinez but Tah drops low to head away and Martinez is penalised for a high boot.

40' Young's corner is aimed for Gagliardini lurking at the far post but it rolls straight out of play for a Leverkusen throw-in. The Germans have recovered well since going two goals behind.

39' Inter still look menacing on the occasions they can get forward. Martinez pokes a pass across the box for Lukaku but Tah is there to punt it away. Inter end up winning a corner down their left.

37' Diaby's cross from the left causes Handanovic anxiety and the keeper punches clear. Leverkusen keep possession until Tah loops the ball out of play.

35' Inter are finding creating chances slightly tougher now. Havertz pins Young near Inter's corner flag but the veteran full-back succeeds in winning a goal-kick.

33' The ball's floated into Inter's box but no one in a red shirt can reach it. Leverkusen keep the pressure on and win a corner which Inter clear. It seems Leverkusen's near escapes have shocked them into sharpening up.

30' Leverkusen are lucky to get that reprieve, warranted though it was. Meanwhile, D'Ambrosio fouls Diaby to hand the Germans a free-kick in Inter's half.

28' NO PENALTY FOR INTER! After a minute or two of talk, the referee goes over to watch the incident for himself on the monitor. He's left in no doubt - he cancels the penalty and hands Hradecky a goal-kick. It's the right decision.

26' PENALTY FOR INTER! D'Ambrosio dances into the box from the right and his cross hits Sinkgraven's shoulder. D'Ambrosio appeals and the referee points immediately to the spot! It looks extraordinary harsh as Sinkgraven couldn't do more to avoid that. VAR takes a look while Lukaku waits to take the penalty...

23' It's almost 3-0 Inter! Leverkusen get caught way too far upfield and Brozovic sets Lukaku free on the counter. The Belgian gets one-on-one with Hradecky in the box but the Finnish keeper rushes out to block. Leverkusen are on the ropes here.

19' Inter almost make it two! Martinez slaloms into the box from the right and crosses low into the centre. It causes panic in Leverkusen's defence and the Germans frantically clear as Barella's shot is blocked on the line.

18' Leverkusen resume where they left off, passing the ball around to little effect. Baumgartlinger almost sells Sinkgraven short but the Dutch left-back manages to salvage a throw-in out of it.

17' That was Inter's first shot on target of the game. They've had just over 30% possession of the ball so far but they've looked more threatening than Leverkusen.

13' Inter get a free-kick in midfield as Demibay clatters into the back of Barella. The Italians promptly squander it. Volland races down the inside-left channel and tries a cross but makes an almighty hash of it.

11' There's plenty of turnover in midfield so far as Leverkusen come out with the ball for now. Demirbay plays a round-the-corner pass towards Volland but it's intercepted.

9' Inter's back three pass between themselves for a while, luring Leverkusen's forwards onto them. Barella lofts a pass in the direction of Martinez but Hradecky is alert and claims it first.

7' Leverkusen end up winning a free-kick and manage to beat Inter's block. It looks like Inter will look to play on the counter here, a state of affairs which will suit them just fine.

5' Inter play dangerously inside their own box while Leverkusen press furiously. Handanovic sends a direct pass forward for Lukaku who holds up well and finds D'Ambrosio bombing down the right. Inter end up winning a throw.

3' Leverkusen venture forward for the first time. Diaby jinks his way past a few Inter challenges but can't quite create a shooting opportunity. Inter clear.

1' Leverkusen get us underway here! The Germans find themselves under pressure straight away as Lukaku has a potshot from outside the box blocked.

The two sides are out on the pitch in Dusseldorf. Inter are wearing their iconic black and blue home strip. Leverkusen will play in their all-red away colours.

This will be only the third competitive meeting between Inter and Leverkusen. The Italians won both clashes in the 2002-03 Champions League second group stage, 3-2 at home and 2-0 away. Let's hope that their encounter here will be similarly exciting.

Inter name an unchanged team from the one that saw off Getafe in the round of 16 last week. Leverkusen make three changes from their 1-0 victory over Rangers. Sven Bender was due to start but is injured. Charles Aranguiz is suspended so Palacios steps in for him. Demirbay also starts ahead of Wirtz.

SUBS: Niklas Lomb, Aleksandar Dragovic, Mitchell Weiser, Jonathan Tah, Nadiem Amiri, Ramazan Özcan, Karim Bellarabi, Wendell, Leon Bailey, Florian Wirtz, Lucas Alario.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Lukas Hradecky; Lars Bender (c), Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Daley Sinkgraven; Julian Baumgartlinger, Exequiel Palacios; Kai Havertz, Kerem Demirbay, Moussa Diaby; Kevin Volland.

SUBS: Christian Eriksen, Andrea Ranocchia, Daniele Padelli, Antonio Candreva, Sebastiano Esposito, Milan Skriniar, Cristiano Biraghi, Borja Valero, Stefano Sensi, Victor Moses, Lucien Agoume, Alexis Sanchez.

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic (c); Diego Godin, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Danilo D'Ambrosio, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Roberto Gagliardini, Ashley Young; Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez.

In Inter's way are Bayer Leverkusen, who last contested a European quarter-final in 2007-08 in this competition's old guise the UEFA Cup. Leverkusen haven't reached a semi-final in Europe since their famous 'nearly' team of 2001-02 went on to lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid. As you can see, there's plenty at stake here for Peter Bosz's side too.

Inter will be excited to be here in Dusseldorf. This is Inter's first European quarter-final since 2010-11, the season after they won the treble under Jose Mourinho. The club were knocked out of the Champions League by Schalke 04 that year and haven't been the same since. Can Inter continue their revival under Antonio Conte?

Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this UEFA Europa League quarter-final fixture between Inter and Bayer Leverkusen at Merkur Spielarena in Dusseldorf, Germany.

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