Inter 5-0 Shakhtar Donetsk Player Ratings: Martinez & Lukaku Fire Inter to Europa League Final
By Ali Rampling
Inter will play Sevilla in the 2020 Europa League final after recording an emphatic 5-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Monday evening.
Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku both grabbed a brace and Danilo D'Ambrosio headed home from a corner as Antonio Conte's side cruised past their Ukrainian opponents.
Let's get into some player ratings.
Inter
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Samir Handanović (GK) - 6/10 - Cool as you like when playing out from the back and enjoyed a fairly untroubled night.
Diego Godin (CB) - 7/10 - Inter were characteristically solid, organised and stubborn at the back. Produced a woeful spot of play-acting in the second half in an otherwise impressive performance.
Stefan de Vrij (CB) - 7/10 - Much like his central defensive partners, de Vrij was composed in possession and solid and dependable out of it. Inter kept their shape impeccably at the back, and Shakhtar could not find a way past them.
Alessandro Bastoni (CB) - 7/10 - Picked out Barella with an exquisite cross field pass in the second half and consistently brought the ball out well from the back.
2. Midfielders
Danilo D'Ambrosio (RWB) - 7/10 - Relentlessly up and down the right flank all evening. Doubled Inter's lead with a bullet header.
Nicolò Barella (CM) - 8/10 - Was energetic and lively throughout, and was at the heart of every positive Inter move. Produced a fantastic piece of skill and a pin point delivery to work the opening and find the head of Martinez for Inter's first.
Marcelo Brozović (CM) - 8/10 - Sent in the corner for D'Ambrosio to head home. Expertly shielded the back three all evening and didn't give Shakhtar an inch.
Roberto Gagliardini (CM) - 6/10 - Much like Brozović, Gagliardini was comfortable in possession and disciplined out of it, offering protection to the back three as Shakhtar failed to break Inter down.
Ashley Young (LWB) - 7/10 - Looked menacing going forward and tucked in well out of possession to help Inter maintain their rigid defensive shape. Whipped in a wicked cross in the first half that should have been turned home.
3. Forwards
Romelu Lukaku (ST) - 8/10 - Endured a quiet, frustrating first half but was outstanding in the second. Combined well with Martinez throughout, setting up his strike partner for Inter's third. Martinez returned the favour minutes later for Lukaku to finish superbly. Demonstrated incredible pace and desire for Inter's fifth.
Lautaro Martínez (ST) - 9/10 - Opened the scoring with a fine header, demonstrating superb movement and desire. Almost doubled Inter's lead with a wonderfully imaginative attempted lob. Expertly curled home his second and Inter's third 16 minutes from time.
4. Substitutes
Cristiano Biraghi - 6/10
Victor Moses - 5/10
Christian Eriksen - 5/10
Sebastiano Esposito - 5/10
Shakhtar Donetsk
5. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Andriy Pyatov (GK) - 4/10 - Cheaply gave the ball away when attempting to play out from the back, leading to Inter taking the lead. Partly atoned for his error with a terrific save to keep out Martínez early in the second half but was sub-par all evening.
Dodo (RB) - 5/10 - Got forward well in the first half but tired towards the end and was hugely exposed as Inter cut sliced through the Shakhtar back line.
Serhiy Kryvtsov (CB) - 5/10 - Looked okay in the first half but was given the run around by Lukaku and Martinez in the second.
Davit Khocholava (CB) - 5/10 - Like his centre back partner, Khocholava looked relatively competent in the first half, neatly combining with the Shakhtar midfield, before being completely blown away in the second.
Mykola Matvienko (LB) 6/10 - Sent in a fantastic cross for Moraes just past the hour mark, but the Shakhtar striker spurned a golden opportunity. Was then out jumped by D'Ambrosio moments later for Inter's second.
6. Midfielders
Taison (LM) - 4/10 - Fired well over from range in the second half in an otherwise quiet performance.
Taras Stepanenko (DCM) - 5/10 - Was cool and composed on the ball without ever looking probing and dangerous. Shakhtar dominated possession in the first half, but failed to create anything clear cut. Was at fault for Inter's third after losing possession deep inside his own half.
Marcos Antônio (CM) - 6/10 - Neat and tidy in possession, sent a fizzing effort from distance just over the bar in Shakhtar's best opening of the first half.
Alan Patrick (CM) - 5 /10 - Like Marcos Antonio and Stepanenko, Alan Patrick kept the ball well without really asking any questions of the Inter backline. Came off before the hour mark after a relatively quiet game.
Marlos (RM) - 5/10 - Looked tricky and dangerous at times but failed to really get at Inter's backline as Shakhtar struggled to create a clear opening.
7. Forwards
Júnior Moraes (ST) - 4/10 - Cut an isolated figure in the first half and was left to feed off scraps. Should have equalised in the second half but headed straight at Handanović from point blank range.
8. Substitutes
Solomon - 4/10