Still a long way to go, but this is why Inter are genuine Treble contenders | OneFootball

Inter have qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals and remain the only Serie A club still involved in three competitions, so Richard Hall explains why the Nerazzurri can dream of another legendary Treble this season.

‘Inter’s Golden Couple’ was the headline of Italy’s pink paper the day after Inter silenced the hostile De Kuip Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 last week. The Nerazzurri completed the job on Tuesday night, securing another 2-1 win and qualifying for the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich will be the Nerazzurri’s opponents in the next phase.

Over the two legs against Feyenoord, the pairing of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram again showed why Inter are incredibly dangerous and potentially treble contenders. It was also an old-school Champions League tie that further highlighted why Inter can be proud of a defence that is becoming more and more miserly as the season goes on. That is the point, and the Milanese just keep improving.

For those of a particular vintage, Inter v Feyenoord has history and a nostalgic pang that reminds one of drinking wine by the stream in summers past. The two have met in European competitions on a few occasions. One of the most memorable encounters came in the 2002 UEFA Cup when the two teams met in the Round of 32.

epa11942852 Lautaro Martinez of Inte celebrates scoring the 2-0 lead during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 soccer match between Feyenoord and Inter at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/KOEN VAN WEEL

Inter, managed by Héctor Cúper, faced Feyenoord in an intense tie. The first leg, played in Rotterdam, ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The Dutch were the stronger side in the first half, but the Nerazzurri fought back, showing the resilience they are known for. The second leg in Milan was just as competitive, and despite Inter winning 3-2, they were eliminated on away goals, a shocking outcome for many.

In addition to this 2002 encounter, the two teams met again in 2005 in the UEFA Champions League group stages. This time under Roberto Mancini, the team were in strong form in Europe, whilst Feyenoord were hoping to make an impact against a stronger Milanese set-up. Inter won 2-0 in Milan and the return leg in Rotterdam ended in a 1-1 draw, securing Inter’s progression to the knockout stages. These matches illustrated the gap in quality between the two sides but also highlighted Feyenoord’s ability to challenge top clubs just as we have seen this season when they beat Milan.

epa11942934 (L-R) Stefan de Vrij of Inter, Anis Hadj Moussa of Feyenoord and Alessandro Bastoni of Inter in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 soccer match between Feyenoord and Inter at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 05 March 2025. EPA-EFE/KOEN VAN WEEL

It has to be said that in the game at the De Kuip, Inter were dominant, and the front line secured two visually great goals from their Argentine and French forwards. However, the use of Alessandro Bastoni and the calmness of Josep Martinez were just the icing on a defensive cake that could be served in any Milanese café.

Simone Inzaghi must take great credit; he now has ten Champions League games under his belt this season. Guess how many goals Inter has conceded? Just two. That, again, is one objective in Europe’s elite competition. For this reason, many see the Nerazzurri as potential Champions elect, especially due to the strength in depth, but there is a long way to go yet. The fact that Lautaro Martinez broke the all-time European goalscoring record for Inter, putting himself ahead of such names as Sandro Mazzola, Adriano, Diego Milito, and Jair Da Costa, also shows why hopes are high.

Strength in depth will also come into the game against Atalanta this weekend. If you are hoping to win on all fronts, then yes, you need luck, but more importantly, a squad that is ready to play. Inter have this thanks to Inzaghi’s rotation policy, which allowed him to secure an important win against Feyenoord last night despite resting Lautaro Martinez, Nicolò Barella, and—partially—Alessandro Bastoni.

Denzel Dumfries captains Inter against Feyenoord in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Feyenoord (picture: @inter via X).

Let’s not forget that for the first game against Feyenoord, Denzel Dumfries was the only certified wingback ready to play, a problem for a team that relies heavily on them for success. Federico Dimarco (most importantly), Matteo Darmian, Carlos Augusto and Nicola Zalewski were all out for the game in Holland, meaning that Mike Aidoo, Matteo Motta and Daniele Quieto were called up in case. On Tuesday night, two other Primavera talents, Thomas Berenbruch and Matteo Cocchi, made their first-team debut in the second leg.

Inter are going into the next round ahead of Napoli by only one point, and they will need to navigate this tricky game against Atalanta before meeting Bayern Munich after the international break. The title race remains wide open, but this remains an exciting time for Inter fans as the team looks hungry, physical and able. This is a long race, but Inter are proving to have all the tools needed to go all the way in all three competitions: Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League. With no mistakes, they can continue their journey with a good lead.