Inter 4-0 Viktoria Plzen: Dzeko-inspired Nerazzurri cruise into last 16 as Barcelona’s fate is sealed

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Edin Dzeko scored twice and Romelu Lukaku netted on his comeback as Inter beat Viktoria Plzen to confirm Champions League progress.

Inter confirmed their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League and simultaneously eliminated Barcelona after cruising to an Edin Dzeko-led 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen.

The Nerazzurri knew they would go through regardless if Barcelona did not win at home to Bayern Munich later in the day, but Simone Inzaghi’s men removed any doubt with a professional display.

There were signs of nervousness early on as Inter spurned several first-half chances, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave them the breakthrough before Dzeko made sure it was effectively game over by half-time – for Pilsen and Barcelona.

Dzeko’s clinical finish just after the hour was then complemented by Romelu Lukaku’s late strike on his return from injury as Inter progressed to the next round.

Inter’s persistence paid off in the 35th minute after a frustrating first half hour.

Alessandro Bastoni attacked down the left and went through a one-two with Federico Dimarco and Mkhitaryan was on hand to nod in at the back post.

It turned out that Džeko had moved out of the way for Mkhitaryan to get the chance, although the Bosnian didn’t have to wait long for his own goal.

Dimarco latched on to a superb long-range pass from Nicol Barella and played the ball into the penalty area first time for Dzeko to tap home on the stroke of half-time.

Mkhitaryan almost added a spectacular second just after the break, his 25-yard effort clipping the outside post.

But Džeko doubled his tally, guiding a controlled left-footer into the bottom-left corner from the center of the box after good work from Lautaro Martinez.

Substitute Lukaku then found the same corner in the 87th minute with an emphatic finish after two months out.

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