Inter Milan had to beat Borussia Monchengladbach to keep their qualification hopes aliveRomelu Lukaku scored twice as Inter Milan kept alive their unlikely hopes of qualification for the Champions League last 16 with victory over Group B leaders Borussia Monchengladbach.
The German side could have sealed top spot with victory but three points now separate the group’s four teams going into next week’s final round of games.
Alassane Plea cancelled out Matteo Darmian’s opener before half-time.
Lukaku scored twice in nine minutes to make it 3-1, before Plea’s second.
There was late drama as Ashley Young missed an excellent chance to put the result beyond doubt, before a VAR review with seven minutes remaining denied Plea his hat-trick and ensured Antonio Conte’s side remain in this season’s competition for at least one more game.
Real Madrid were beaten 2-0 by Shakhtar Donetsk earlier on Tuesday. It leaves everything still to play for as Real host Monchengladbach and Inter welcome Shakhtar on 9 December.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says he will not resign after defeatReaction to Tuesday’s Champions League actionListen to the latest Football Daily podcastIt had been a miserable European campaign for Conte’s Inter, second in the Italian top flight, but with just two points from their first four Champions League group matches.
Darmian ensured Inter’s early dominance was rewarded as he slotted in from a tight angle after 17 minutes, but Monchengladbach responded well to equalise before the interval.
The momentum shifted again as Lukaku fired in for Conte’s side, two minutes after Lautaro Martinez had struck the post from the edge of the penalty area.
The former Manchester United and Everton striker’s second, from Achraf Hakimi’s assist, looked to have put Inter out of reach, but Marcus Thuram sent in Plea to set up a nervy finale.
Young’s miss from a yard out looked to have cost Inter, but a VAR review found Breel Embolo in an offside position after Plea thought he had sent the Bundesliga side through.
Inter had to win to stand any chance of qualification, but they now have every chance of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since 2012.
Line-upsB Mgladbach1Sommer18LainerBooked at 74mins28Ginter24JantschkeSubstituted forZakariaat 45’minutes17WendtSubstituted forWolfat 78’minutes6Kramer32Neuhaus19Lazaro13StindlBooked at 10minsSubstituted forEmboloat 70’minutes10Thuram14PleaBooked at 90minsSubstitutes3Lang7Herrmann8Zakaria11Wolf15Beyer16Traoré21Sippel22Bénes31Grün36Embolo40PoulsenInter Milan1Handanovic37Skriniar6de VrijBooked at 58mins95BastoniBooked at 90mins36DarmianSubstituted forHakimiat 60’minutes23BarellaBooked at 71mins77Brozovic5GagliardiniBooked at 90mins15YoungBooked at 80minsSubstituted forPerisicat 87’minutes9LukakuBooked at 89mins10MartínezBooked at 20minsSubstituted forSánchezat 71’minutesSubstitutes2Hakimi7Sánchez12Sensi13Ranocchia14Perisic24Eriksen33D’Ambrosio35Stankovic97RaduLive TextMatch ends, Borussia Mönchengladbach 2, Inter Milan 3.
Second Half ends, Borussia Mönchengladbach 2, Inter Milan 3.
Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Hannes Wolf (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan).
Foul by Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card.
Christoph Kramer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan).
Offside, Inter Milan. Alessandro Bastoni tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.
Corner, Inter Milan. Conceded by Matthias Ginter.
Attempt blocked. Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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