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Inter Milan vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE!
Romelu Lukaku scored one goal and set up another as Inter Milan defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to reach the Europa League semi-finals on Monday.
Lukaku was the driving force from the start, imposing himself on the game and disrupting the Leverkusen defence to keep Inter in the hunt for their first trophy in nine years.
When Nicolo Barella gave Inter the lead in the 15th minute, it was off a rebound from a shot of Lukaku's which had been blocked. Six minutes later, Lukaku scored after a link up with Ashley Young.
Just as Inter threatened to overwhelm Leverkusen, the German team kept themselves in the game. Kai Havertz played a one-two with Kevin Volland and fired the ball past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to cut the gap to a single goal four minutes after Lukaku scored.
A VAR review stopped Inter extending their lead, overturning a penalty given for handball against Leverkusen left-back Daley Sinkgraven.
Inter will now play Shakhtar Donetsk or FC Basel in the semifinals om August 17.
Date, time and venue
Inter Milan vs Bayer Leverkusen is scheduled for a 8pm BST kick-off on Monday, August 10, 2020.
The match will be played behind closed doors at the Dusseldorf Arena, with no fans due to be present due to government guidelines regarding coronavirus.
Team news
Inter Milan: Handanovic, Godin, de Vrij, Bastoni, D'Ambrosio, Barella, Brozovic, Gagliardini, Young, Lukaku, Martinez
Subs: Sanchez, Moses, Sensi, Ranocchia, Valero, Eriksen, Padelli, Esposito, Agoume, Biraghi, Skriniar, Candreva
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Lars Bender, Sven Bender, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven, Baumgartlinger, Palacios, Havertz, Demirbay, Diaby, Volland
Subs: Tah, Dragovic, Bailey, Amiri, Alario, Wendell, Weiser, Wirtz, Ozcan, Lomb, Bellarabi
How to watch
TV channel: The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2, with coverage starting from 7:45pm.
Read More
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app.
Alexis Sanchez is available after completing his permanent move from Manchester United.
As for Leverkusen, Chelsea eyes will be on Kai Havertz with the 21-year-old a top transfer target for the Blues.
Prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen and Inter have both qualified for the Champions League already so this should be a game played with a certain amount of freedom.
The German side have plenty of threats all over the pitch, although Inter should have the steel needed to secure victory.
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Havertz the best Leverkusen player of all time? No pressure...
Ahead of tonight's crucial fixture, manager Peter Bosz insisted Kai Havertz is the best player to ever play for Bayer Leverkusen.
Toni Kroos, Michael Ballack, Ze Roberto? Nope, Havertz top the lot!
"He’s the best player I’ve seen at Bayer," Bosz said. "We had Emerson, Ballack, Zé Roberto and Kroos – he tops them all."
Some praise for the 20-year-old...
The Dusseldorf Arena awaits
With the remaining European ties to be played in a one-off match format, neutral venues have been picked to avoid any advantage to either team.
Thus, tonight's game will be played in Germany's Dusseldorf Arena, of course, behind closed doors.
Photo: Getty
Havertz starts as Leverkusen make two changes
The big news is, as expected, Havertz starts tonight - so there will be plenty of eager eyes looking on.
Peter Bosz has made two changes, however. Julian Baumgarlinger and Kerem Dermirbay come in for Florian Wirtz and Charles Aranguiz, who misses out through suspension.
Elsewhere, Karim Bellarabi has recovered from a muscle injury and makes the bench, while Nadiem Amiri - who was self-isolating after coming into contact with someone with coronavirus - is now back on the bench.
Sanchez, Eriksen on the bench
Antonio Conte opts for an unchanged side to the one that defeated Getafe 2-0 in their Europa League last-16 second leg last week.
That means there is no start for Alexis Sanchez, despite his official signing. Elsewhere, Christian Eriksen also has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Victor Moses.
Former Manchester United duo Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young are in the XI, however.
Bayer Leverkusen team news
Starting XI: Hradecky, Sven Bender, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven, Baumgartlinger, Lars Bender, Palacios, Demirbay, Diaby, Havertz, Volland
Subs: Ozcan, Tah, Dragovic, Bailey, Amiri, Alario, Wendell, Weiser, Wirtz, Bellarabi
Inter Milan team news
Starting XI: Handanovic, Godin, De Vrij, Baston, D'Ambrosio, Barella, Brozovic, Gagliardini, Young, Lukaku, Lautaro
Subs: Padelli, Sanchez, Moses, Sensi, Ranocchia, Valero, Eriksen, Esposito, Agoume, Biraghi, Skriniar, Candreva
Havertz the one to watch for Leverkusen
All eyes will be on Kai Havertz once again tonight as the youngster continues to be linked with Chelsea.
The 20-year-old tops Frank Lampard's transfer wish list this summer as he looks to build a new-look attack following the acquisitions of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Havertz showed glimpses of greatness in Leverkusen's win over Rangers, despite failing to register a goal or assist.
Leverkusen have maintained that Havertz will categorically not leave before the end of their Europa League campaign, while insisting Chelsea will not receive a cut-price for the versatile youngster.
And while the German club look to continue their European journey, there may just be a few Blues fans cheering on their former boss Antonio Conte tonight.
Sanchez in the spotlight tonight
Alexis Sanchez will play tonight officially as an Inter Milan play for the first time.
The Chilean spent the season on loan at the San Siro and made that move permanent this week, formally ending a two-and-a-half-year stint in Manchester, having joined from Arsenal in January 2018.
Inter did not have to pay a transfer fee, with United happy to let him leave for nothing in order to get his astronomical wages off their payroll.
And Sanchez is relishing the opportunity to kick on with the Italian giants.
“I'm really happy to be staying here with you, Inter fans,” Sanchez told Inter’s website. “I've found a family here, and the staff are great.
“[It's] a group where there's a real desire to win something big. People here want to fight together as a team to give the club the success it deserves.
“I'm hungry and I want to win - my goal is to make all our fans happy. I'm here to win, and I'm happy that I'm staying here at Inter!”
European football continues to come thick and fast
After Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen finished off their Europa League last-16 ties just last week, they now face each other as they battle for a place in the final four.
It's an intriguing match-up between two of the top remaining teams in the competition, with Inter Milan certainly one of the tournament favourites.
Antonio Conte's side beat Getafe 2-0 to progress to the last eight, while Leverkusen put in a dominant performance in a 4-1 aggregate win over Rangers.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE match coverage of tonight's Europa League quarter-final between Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen!