London, Agency. Inter Milan won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League pre-quarterfinals, while Manchester City was held to a draw.
Italian Serie A club Inter Milan won the first leg with the decisive goal of Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku. At home, Inter defeated Portuguese club FC Porte with a 1-0 goal difference. Lukaku’s goal in the second half against Porta, which consisted of 10 players, was enough for Inter’s victory.
In the Wednesday night match in Milano, the home team Inter kept the ball possession and put Porte under pressure, but had to struggle a lot for the goal. In the 78th minute of the match, Porta was reduced to 10 players and Inter managed to take advantage of that. After Ottavio left the field with a double yellow card, the pressure on Porte increased. Then, with four minutes remaining in the game, substitute player Lukaku scored a goal to give Inter the win. He entered the field in the 58th minute in place of Eden Dzeko.
With this win, Inter’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals have increased. Now, if Inter can maintain this result in the match to be held in Porta on March 14, it will reach the quarterfinals. A two-goal win is mandatory for Porto.
In the same way, English club Manchester City was unable to maintain the initial lead, and in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League pre-quarterfinals, the German club RB Leipzig was tied. City’s home team was held to a 1-1 draw with Leipzig. When Riyad Maharez scored for City, Josco Givardiol of the home team Leipzig equalized. In the match held on Wednesday night at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, City kept Leipzig under constant pressure, but had to struggle a lot for the goal.
City, who took the lead in the 27th minute of the game, could not maintain that lead. Riyad Maharez managed to score after Ilkay Gundogan’s pass. In the 70th minute of the game, Josco Givardiol scored a goal and brought Leipzig to a 1-1 draw. Since no more goals could be scored, the match ended in a draw. With this tie, there is a possibility that both teams will reach the quarterfinals. Now, the team that succeeds in the second leg on March 14 at the city ground will reach the quarterfinals.