While Manchester United and Copenhagen played chess across the country, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen were staging double jumps all over a checkerboard in Dusseldorf.
Romelu Lukaku and Nicolo Barella scored twice in six first-half minutes before Kai Havertz answered in the 24th to account for all the goals in Inter’s 2-1 defeat of Bayer.
Lukaku has scored in nine-straight UEL matches, a new record.
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Inter now waits for an Aug. 16 semifinal in Cologne, where it will meet the winner of Tuesday’s match between Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk
Bayer now must settle for the Europa League again via its fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga.
The three goals in the nine minutes were highlighted by Lukaku doing his best “Harry Kane versus Leicester City” falling down finish.
Off balance brilliance. Where have we seen that before... 🤔 pic.twitter.com/XCaNJCIqPU
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 10, 2020
Nicola Barella put Inter ahead after a quarter-hour when he made the most of a loose ball outside the 18.
A Manchester United connection saw Inter ahead by two when Ashley Young found Romelu Lukaku and the Belgian striker maintained his composure while being dragged to the ground, beating Lukas Hradecky with a low shot.
Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland’s interplay near the box ended with the transfer rumor mainstay slipping a shot home to bring Bayer back within one.
Lukaku had penalty decisions taken off the board by VAR in each half.
"It's in!"
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 10, 2020
Kai Havertz pulls one back to put @bayer04_en back in the match, 2-1. pic.twitter.com/Py9L8Dy1mJ