Borussia Monchengladbach 2-3 Inter Milan: Romelu Lukaku double keeps qualification hopes alive

Inter Milan had to beat Borussia Monchengladbach to keep their qualification hopes alive

Romelu 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.

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It 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-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

B Mgladbach

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Sommer

18Lainer28Ginter24Jantschke17Wendt

6Kramer32Neuhaus

19Lazaro13Stindl10Thuram

14Plea

• 1Sommer
• 18LainerBooked at 74mins
• 28Ginter
• 24JantschkeSubstituted forZakariaat 45'minutes
• 17WendtSubstituted forWolfat 78'minutes
• 6Kramer
• 32Neuhaus
• 19Lazaro
• 13StindlBooked at 10minsSubstituted forEmboloat 70'minutes
• 10Thuram
• 14PleaBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

• 3Lang
• 7Herrmann
• 8Zakaria
• 11Wolf
• 15Beyer
• 16Traoré
• 21Sippel
• 22Bénes
• 31Grün
• 36Embolo
• 40Poulsen

Inter Milan

Formation 3-5-2

1Handanovic

37Skriniar6de Vrij95Bastoni

36Darmian23Barella77Brozovic5Gagliardini15Young

9Lukaku10Martínez

• 1Handanovic
• 37Skriniar
• 6de VrijBooked at 58mins
• 95BastoniBooked at 90mins
• 36DarmianSubstituted forHakimiat 60'minutes
• 23BarellaBooked at 71mins
• 77Brozovic
• 5GagliardiniBooked at 90mins
• 15YoungBooked at 80minsSubstituted forPerisicat 87'minutes
• 9LukakuBooked at 89mins
• 10MartínezBooked at 20minsSubstituted forSánchezat 71'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Hakimi
• 7Sánchez
• 12Sensi
• 13Ranocchia
• 14Perisic
• 24Eriksen
• 33D'Ambrosio
• 35Stankovic
• 97Radu

Referee:

Danny Makkelie

Match Stats

Home TeamB MgladbachAway TeamInter Milan

Possession

Home54%

Away46%

Shots

Home10

Away15

Shots on Target

Home5

Away4

Corners

Home3

Away5

Fouls

Home14

Away13

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Borussia Mönchengladbach 2, Inter Milan 3.

2. 90'+6'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Borussia Mönchengladbach 2, Inter Milan 3.

3. 90'+5'

   Booking

   Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

4. 90'+5'

   Post update

   Foul by Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

5. 90'+5'

   Post update

   Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

6. 90'+4'

   Booking

   Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

7. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Hannes Wolf (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick on the right wing.

8. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Foul by Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan).

9. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Foul by Alassane Plea (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

10. 90'+4'

    Post update

    Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. 90'+1'

    Booking

    Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card.

12. 90'+1'

    Post update

    Christoph Kramer (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. 90'+1'

    Post update

    Foul by Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan).

14. 90'

    Post update

    Offside, Inter Milan. Alessandro Bastoni tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

15. 89'

    Post update

    Corner, Inter Milan. Conceded by Matthias Ginter.

16. 89'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.

17. 89'

    Booking

    Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) is shown the yellow card.

18. 89'

    Post update

    Foul by Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

19. 89'

    Post update

    Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) wins a free kick on the right wing.

20. 87'

    Post update

    Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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