Inter confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and simultaneously eliminated Barcelona after cruising to an Edin Dzeko-led 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen.
The Nerazzurri knew they would be through regardless if Barcelona failed to win later in the day at home to Bayern Munich, but Simone Inzaghi’s men removed all doubt with a professional display in San Siro.
Initially there were hints of nervousness when Inter spurned a couple of first-half opportunities, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave them the breakthrough before Dzeko ensured it was effectively game over โ for Plzen and Barcelona โ by half-time.
A clinical Dzeko finish just past the hour was then added to by a late Romelu Lukaku strike on his return from injury as Inter eased into the next round.
Inter’s persistence paid off in the 35th minute following a frustrating first half-hour.
Alessandro Bastoni charged up the left and crossed after a one-two with Federico Dimarco, and Mkhitaryan was on hand to nod in at the back post.
Dzeko ducking out of the way proved crucial to Mkhitaryan getting that opportunity, though the Bosnian soon had a goal of his own.
Dimarco latched on to Nicolo Barella’s exquisite long-range pass and played a first-time ball into the danger zone for Dzeko to tap home close to half-time.
Mkhitaryan nearly added a spectacular second just after the break, his 25-yard effort clipping the outside of the post.
But Dzeko did double his tally, guiding a controlled left-footed effort into the bottom-left corner from the centre of the box following good work by Lautaro Martinez.
Substitute Lukaku then found the same corner in the 87th minute with an emphatic finish after two months out.
