On a night when the cold Rotterdam air was met with the warmth of the roaring crowd in De Kuip, you could feel the excitement and prestige of the Champions League in the stadium. A difficult away fixture in the middle of a demanding run of games, it was a test of Inter's ambitions at the halfway point of the League Phase and a chance to build momentum in Europe. Inter left Rotterdam with everything they wanted: three points, three goals scored, zero conceded and a performance built on strength and defensive solidity. "A performance worthy of a top team," was the verdict from the players after the game, as three different goalscorers each left their own personal mark on the match. Bisseck ventured forward and curled a left-footed effort from the right corner of the penalty area into the far side of the net. Pio Esposito was in the right place at the right time to head home the second. And Spence was a constant threat down the right, helping create both goals with his pace, energy and attacking runs. Early in the second half, Zielinski put the game beyond reach, driving through the middle before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike that flew in off the post. It was a show of strength: three goals ahead by the 54th minute, Inter managed the game with maturity, keeping possession and taking the sting out of the contest as the temperature at De Kuip continued to drop. The Nerazzurri now have six points from four games, having taken another important step towards their European objective.
BISSECK'S BELTER
It's the 8th minute. Bisseck receives the ball at the right corner of the penalty area. With his back to goal, he lets it run, turns inside and uses his right foot to set himself up for a shot. He draws his left foot back and then... wait a minute, let's rewind for a moment. Two years ago, Bisseck missed a golden opportunity away to Young Boys in the Champions League, failing to beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one. The miss didn't affect the result (Inter won 0-1), and the defender was quick to poke fun at himself. "All dreams of being a striker died but winning is what matters," he later wrote on Instagram. Now let's fast-forward to the start of this season. Inter vs. Monza, the opening matchday of Serie A. In the first half, Bisseck picked up the ball in a position similar to the one at De Kuip, used some clever footwork to leave two defenders for dust and unleashed a left-footed strike that flashed just wide of the top corner. It was a dress rehearsal for the spectacular effort he would go on to produce against Feyenoord. He managed to get on the scoresheet later on in that game too, finishing with his left foot after a run through the middle. It's a sign of the German centre-back's strength and confidence in his own ability, as he is becoming increasingly involved in Inter's attacking play, pushing forward and finding space in dangerous areas. But now, let's go back to Rotterdam, where Bisseck has just drawn back his left foot… and curls a stunning shot into the net to give Inter the lead. It was a stunning goal, a golazo , and his first Champions League goal too. A hugely important breakthrough and the perfect start to what could have been a tricky encounter, putting Inter firmly on the right track. Maybe that dream of becoming a striker isn't dead after all.
PIO: HEAD(ER) AND HEART
"For a striker, goals are like oxygen, but for me, working for the team and helping us win always come first." Pio Esposito knows how to back up those words with his performances. In every game, he spends large spells battling defenders who push him and pull him, doing everything they can to contain his physical strength. He takes it all in his stride, knowing how valuable his work is to Inter's attacking play, helping the team push higher up the pitch and establish themselves in the opposition half. But when a goal comes, it makes everything feel that much better. For a striker, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of finding the net. It's a feeling they crave. So, let's focus on the 34th minute. Spence drives down the right, taking on his man, Thuram attacks the near post, and Esposito moves towards the far post. A bit of jostling with his marker to get into position, anticipating that the ball might come his way. That's part of a striker's instinct, reading the flight of a cross or anticipating a deflection. Djed's delivery is low, but a touch from a defender sends it looping up into the air, right where Pio is waiting. He powers a header against the crossbar and into the net, celebrating fiercely as he puts what he himself described as "a difficult period" behind him. It's his first goal for Inter since September 14, when he scored in the 5-3 win over Udinese. His contribution to the team had never been in doubt, nor had his willingness to work hard and make sacrifices. But when the ball hits the back of the net, everything becomes that little bit easier for a striker.
WHAT A GOAL, PIOTR!
He had already tried twice in the first half. First in the 38th minute, with a ball dropping invitingly from the air, a clever body feint to let it run and a beautifully struck left-footed volley that flew inches wide. Then again in the 45th minute, with a quick counterattack, a one-two with Thuram and another powerful left-footed effort from a similar distance. This time it was on target, but Ernst made a diving save. Inter still went into the break 2-0 ahead, with Piotr Zielinski in fine form, driving the team forward with his quality in midfield and his ability to carry the ball. The game wasn't over, though, and the Pole was determined to make his mark. They say the third time's the charm, and that was the case against Feyenoord. In the 54th minute, Zielinski surged through the middle with Zechiel tight to him, desperately trying to win the ball back. But there was no stopping Piotr. He spotted his opening and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike from the edge of the box, crushing Dutch hopes of a comeback. His shot flew in off the inside of the post. Wide with the first attempt, denied by the goalkeeper with the second, absolutely perfect with the third. The goal put the result beyond doubt and secured the three points, allowing Inter to control the rest of the game with relative ease. A moment of pure class.
THE SUBSTITUTIONS: WELCOME BACK, BENJI!
There were plenty of challenges to overcome in Rotterdam: a young and talented opponent, a passionate home crowd and, above all, Inter's eighth game in 23 days. A demanding run of fixtures requiring maximum intensity and concentration, with the players needing to dig deep to keep getting results. With Inter 3-0 ahead after 54 minutes, there was finally room to breathe. In the 57th minute, Chivu brought on Mkhitaryan and Bonny for Calhanoglu and Thuram. The Ivorian added pace and physicality, allowing Marcus some much-needed rest, while the Armenian used his vast experience to help Inter retain possession and control the tempo. More changes followed in the closing stages, with Stankovic replacing Zielinski and Sucic coming on for Barella. Then, in the 85th minute, French defender Benjamin Pavard made his return after being sidelined through injury since the game against Parma at San Siro. His comeback was a significant boost for Inter's defence, which ended the night with a second consecutive Champions League clean sheet.
DJED: THE MVP
Djed Spence is really starting to kick it up a notch. We'll start at the end of the match, with the Englishman smiling as he holds the Player of the Match award – his first since joining Inter. He earned it on a night where he showed glimpses of his potential, charging up and down the right flank from start to finish. Positive and dynamic, Djed was always looking to receive the ball, take on his man, lift his head up and pick the right pass. After just eight minutes, he slipped the ball through to Bisseck, who turned it into gold and give Djed his first assist in an Inter shirt. His relentless runs and pace caused problems for the Feyenoord defence throughout the game: he was also behind Pio's second goal, bursting down the right once again and delivering a cross that took a deflection before dropping perfectly onto Esposito's head. Early in the second half, he went looking for a goal of his own, driving into the box, using a drag-back and a series of stepovers to beat Javi Lopez before shifting the ball onto his right foot and shooting, but Ernst was there to cover his near post. Ninety minutes of attacking intent, ninety minutes worthy of the Player of the Match award.
