Inter out-played Liverpool for long periods at San Siro, but failed to take their chances and rattled the crossbar, beaten in the final minutes by a Roberto Firmino header and Mohamed Salah strike.

This was the first time the Nerazzurri were in a Champions League knockout fixture in 10 years, but Nicolò Barella was suspended for both legs, with Joaquin Correa and Robin Gosens injured. Jurgen Klopp surprised with 18-year-old Harvey Elliott getting his Champions League debut in midfield.

Lautaro Martinez curled wide after Denzel Dumfries won it back, while Sadio Mané nodded an Andy Robertson free kick inches over the bar.

Hakan Calhanoglu was very unlucky not to open the scoring after 15 minutes, as his shot from a tricky angle smashed against the crossbar and spun away.

An audacious Mané overhead kick hit the side-netting and Calhanoglu made a decisive interception to stop Salah volleying an Elliott cross.

At the other end, Ibrahima Konate did the same to stop Edin Dzeko meeting the Dumfries ball across the face of goal, while Milan Skriniar’s header on a corner went wide and Virgil Van Dijk used his pace to cut off Dzeko clear on goal.

Inter started the second half very aggressively, Lautaro Martinez at full stretch just unable to get on the end of a Perisic cross at the back post, then Dzeko’s goal ruled offside.

Liverpool were under increasing pressure with panicked defending, so Jurgen Klopp made a triple substitution.

Dzeko saw his shot charged down by Konate from eight yards, but Skriniar had to do the same moments later on Luis Diaz.

Dzeko tried to set up Dumfries rather than go for goal and it was intercepted, on the corner Dumfries saw his header skim the crossbar.

Just as Inter were knocking hard at the door, they were caught out when Roberto Firmino’s glancing header met a Robertson corner at the near post and flicked it past Samir Handanovic.

It has happened so many times in the Champions League this season, Inter dominating for long periods and not making any of it count with goals.

Perisic fired first-time inches over the bar from the edge of the area, but once again Liverpool were lucky with Salah’s scuffed shot squirming its way through a sea of legs for 2-0.

Photo Credit: LFC/Twitter

Maurizio Sarri has compared the chances of his current club Lazio with his Europa-cup wining Chelsea, saying that the Stamford Bridge club “were built to win it.”

The first leg of the Europa League play-off against FC Porto kicks off on Thursday at in Portugal.

Lazio haven’t exactly given their best in the Europa League this season and Sarri does not disguise it is hardly his top priority, even for a man who lifted this Cup with Chelsea.

The former Chelsea manager said: “It is a very tiring competition. You finish at 23.00 on a Thursday and no longer even have the option of postponing your weekend game to Monday.

“Obviously, Chelsea were built to win the Europa League with 30 players all on the same level. This is a European stage for Lazio and we want to have our say, even if there are stronger teams than us in the tournament.

“It is always prestigious for the club to play at this level.”

The coach is also no fan of the new rule abolishing away goals in UEFA knockout fixtures.

“This new ruling will take many games to extra time, even though we don’t have a fixture list where anyone can really afford to play extra time midweek.”

Sarri has been increasingly frustrated with his Lazio players for their lurches between victories and total wash-outs, such as the 4-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final defeat to Milan last week.

In explaining his position, he made a reference to his Napoli side.

“I always expect a team with the right attitude, but it’s difficult to get into the minds of your players. I remember once my side lost the first Champions League game, the day after I was furious, but two players told me they were only focused on Serie A. Sometimes, they have this unconscious bias.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid beyond this season hangs in the balance, according to a report by Diario Sport.

Florentino Perez is said to be unhappy with the way Madrid played during last night’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and doesn’t see Ancelotti to be the man capable of leading them into a new era.

Ancelotti was a quick appointment last summer after moves for Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte failed to come to fruition. The veteran Italian was at Everton at the time and seemed the ideal man to replace Zinedine Zidane for the short-term.

And Madrid have been good in La Liga this season, currently leading the table and sitting four points clear of Sevilla. They also won the Supercopa de Espana.

But they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club and now face an early exit from the Champions League, the competition Madrid value like no other.

Ancelotti has two seasons still to run in his contract after this one but it’s possible that Florentino could make a change in the summer.

And, according to Football Espana, two of the biggest names linked with the position and long admired by Madrid’s president are PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.

Photo Credit: realmadriden/Twitter

Pep Guardiola has laughed off suggestions his Manchester City side are in a league of their own and says ‘pain in the ass’ Liverpool are more than capable of beating them – perhaps even to the title.

The reigning Premier League champions looked to be running away with the title not so long ago but Liverpool have slowly started to get back into contention and would be just six points behind City if they win their game in hand.

Nevertheless, City’s form looks imperious – not losing since a dead rubber against RB Leipzig in December – and they put on yet another masterclass on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

The visitors ran riot in Lisbon against Sporting and will take a 5-0 lead back to the Etihad after Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling all got on the scoresheet.

City, who made the Champions League final last season, are favourites to do so again this year but Guardiola was quick to play down their dominance in a post-match interview with Peter Schmeichel on CBS.

The legendary Manchester United goalkeeper asked him: ‘On your current form, I mean you’re scoring nearly every chance even in the Premier League, what team out there can beat you?’

But Guardiola replied immediately: “Liverpool. They’re six points behind us. Liverpool have been our biggest rival in the last seasons and always was there. They are a pain in the ass all the time! So they’re a fantastic team in Europe.”

The Spaniard also listed other challengers in the Champions League, continuing: “Just take a look at PSG today, they told me they played really well against Real Madrid. And look at Inter Milan or Liverpool or [Manchester] United in this competition.

“So when you are now today in February they don’t assure you in April or May will be like we are right now. So in a long competition like the Premier League, when you win you are the best. You are the best.

“But in Champions League it’s [different]… our first goal, for a little margin, is a goal. Could be offside, but it’s a goal. And the difference in the next minutes, the next game, for that result, it changes everything. In the Premier League, no, but in this competition it’s like this.

“So that’s why today we were so good being so clinical. Arrive, score, arrive, score. And when this happens it is so difficult for any opponent.”

Photo Credit: ManCity/Twitter

Kylian Mbappe says Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Real Madrid will not influence his decision over his future.

Mbappe was the star of the show on Tuesday night, putting in a wonderful performance and scoring the winning goal during PSG’s Champions League round of 16 first leg clash with Los Blancos.

The two sides looked as though they were headed for a goalless draw until Mbappe produced a magical piece of skill to beat two markers before slotting home 46 seconds before the full-time whistle.

It was an incredible winner and a potentially huge goal in the tie.

It’s also a huge narrative point given the heavy links between Mbappe and Real Madrid.

The French striker was the subject of huge offers from Los Blancos last summer, and it’s thought the La Liga giants will attempt to sign him on a free transfer when his contract runs out this summer.

No talks have happened just yet due to this game, Real Madrid wanting to respect all parties.

But they are expected to begin after the second leg on March 9.

Though, according to Mbappe, no decision has been made on his part.

Speaking in Spanish to Movistar, via Footbasll Espana he said: “I’ve not decided my future. I play for Paris Saint-Germain, one of the best clubs in the world.

“This game to influence my future? No – I’ve not decided, I give my best and then we will see what happens next season”.

Photo Credit: PSG_English/Twitter