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Wolfsburg
Europa League | Round-Of-16
Mar 12, 2015 at 6pm UK
 
Inter logo

3-1

Naldo (28'), De Bruyne (63', 75')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Palacio (5')

Live Commentary: Wolfsburg 3-1 Inter Milan - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text commentary of the Europa League match between Wolfsburg and Inter Milan at the Volkswagen Arena.
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Wolfsburg came from behind to beat Inter Milan 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie this evening.

Rodrigo Palacio raced through and finished calmly to give the visitors an early lead, before Naldo headed in to equalise for the hosts

After the break, Kevin De Bruyne struck twice for Wolsfburg to leave them in control of the tie ahead of next week's return leg.

Find out how the action unfolded below.


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Hello everyone! We've reached the last 16 of the Europa League and there are some brilliant looking games across the continent taking place this evening. Here, our focus will be on events in Germany as Wolfsburg take on Italian heavyweights Inter Milan.

What a great season it has been for Wolfsburg, who are currently second in the Bundesliga after a stunning run of form. They look certain to book a return to the Champions League and it is no wonder that they are seen my many as the favourites to win this competition.



Things haven't been as great on the domestic front for Inter Milan, but they seem to have recovered from a very poor start to the season to mount a late push for a top-five finish in Serie A. Roberto Mancini looks to have added some steel and resilience and they should be full of confidence tonight, after battling from two goals down to draw with Napoli at the weekend.

TEAM NEWS: Wolfsburg are led by in-form striker Bas Dost, who has scored 13 goals since the turn of the year. Their formidable attack is completed by Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle. Meanwhile, Inter have two proven goalscorers of their own, as Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi both start. Xherdan Shaqiri also plays, while Hernanes is back in the midfield.

WOLFSBURG XI: Benaglio, Vieirinha, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez, Gustavo, Guilavogui, Caligiuri, De Bruyne, Schurrle, Dost

INTER MILAN XI: Carrizo, Santon, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, D'Ambrosio, Guarin, Medel, Hernanes, Shaqiri, Palacio, Icardi

WOLFSBURG SUBS: Grun, Schafer, Klose, Träsch, Perisic, Jung, Bendtner

INTER MILAN SUBS: Handanovic, Andreolli, Kovacic, Vidic, Kuzmanovic, Dodo, Puscas

I did mention that Wolfsburg had been in great form, but their 11-game unbeaten run in the league was ended on Saturday afternoon with a defeat at Augsburg. It has left them 11 points behind Bayern Munich in the table, but it was always going to be a tough ask to dethrone one of the best teams in world football.

However, they are nine points clear of third-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, so a place in the Champions League looks almost certain. As well as their good form this season, they have been involved in some truly incredible games, with recent 5-4 and 5-3 wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen highlighting their brilliant attacking play.

Inter have been among the goals too in recent weeks and on their last away match in Europe they were held to an incredible 3-3 draw by Celtic. They edged through that last-32 tie with a 1-0 win at home and I'm sure that their manger will be hoping to keep things tighter at the back today.

Perhaps it is no surprise then that both of these teams are among the highest scorers in their domestic leagues. Wolfsburg's 53 Bundesliga goals this season is second only to the 66 that Bayern have managed, while Inter have struck 41 times in Serie A, which is the fourth best in Italy.

Right, the teams are out and the start of the match is now a few moments away. Just before the action begins here, let me remind you that we have more live coverage later this evening, with the likes of Everton, Sevilla, Napoli and Roma all playing.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Volkswagen Arena!

Inter have made a strong start to the match and they are showing plenty of threat. They win an early corner when Palacio sees his shot blocked, but from the resulting set piece, the corner from Hernanes is cleared without too many problems by the hosts.

GOAL! Wolfsburg 0-1 Inter Milan (Rodrigo Palacio)

What a brilliant start this has been for Inter, who take the lead in the first five minutes! Wolfsburg lose possession inside their own half and Icardi picks up the ball in space. He then slides a fantastic pass through to Palacio, who makes no mistake to finish low past Benaglio and give the visitors a crucial away goal.

Wolfsburg have looked very sluggish so far and they haven't been able to get down and really put pressure on the Inter defence. In stark contrast, the visitors have been very positive going forward and it certainly looks as if there are more goals in this for them.

Inter look so dangerous every time they come forward and on a few occasions now they have easily got in behind their opponents' defence. They almost cause another moment of panic when Icardi flashes a low ball across the box, but this time it is scrambled clear.

Despite the great opening to the match that Inter have had, it is worth remembering that they were two goals up away to Celtic at this point, before throwing away that lead. I'm sure Mancini will want his players to keep things tight at the back, but it is they who look more threatening here.

It's still not quite happening for Wolfsburg in the final third and the visitors are making sure that they have no space to attack down the flanks. De Bruyne and Schurrle have looked quiet and Dost has been stranded up front so far.

Wolfsburg finally manage their first strike on goal of the evening, but it's not one to remember. A free kick is only cleared to Schurrle on the edge of the box and the former Chelsea man goes for goal with the volley, but he completely mishits it well over the bar.

The visitors continue to look a danger and they burst forward with pace on the counter attack. They work it to Icardi on the left side of the box and the striker gets to the byline before it pulling back to Hernanes, who sees his effort take a deflection and head just over the bar.

SHOT! This is much better from Wolfsburg. Schurrle is picked out with a floated pass to the edge of the box and he neatly flicks the ball to Dost, before continuing his run. Dost then slips it back to him and he goes for goal with a first-time strike that ends up in the arms of Benaglio.

CHANCE! The hosts have stepped things up a gear and they come agonizingly close to grabbing an equaliser. Guilavogui is the man who has the chance, as he is picked out at the back post by Rodriguez's cross, before seeing his header tipped over by the keeper.

GOAL! Wolfsburg 1-1 Inter Milan (Naldo)

Having almost scored moments ago, Wolfsburg are now back on level terms. From the resulting corner that they had just won, Naldo arrives unmarked in the middle to head De Bruyne's cross into the back of the net. Carrizo did get a touch on the ball, but there was too much power for the keeper to stop that.

SHOT! The tide has definitely turned in Wolfsburg's favour and it's they are looking the better team now. They are getting forward with far more purpose and Vieirinha comes close with a low strike that he drills just wide from the edge of the box.

YELLOW CARD! D'Ambrosio picks up a card for the visitors for going in late on the back of De Bruyne. It's their second booking of the match, as Icardi was shown a yellow moments ago after a clash with Knoche.

Wolfsburg have played such a high line at times this evening and they are very nearly caught out when Icardi latches onto a ball over the top and finds himself clean through on goal. However, the flag was raised for an offside by the fourth official, but the replays show that he was actually in line with the last defender.

It must be said that some of the play at the back from both teams has been suspect at times. We have seen plenty of nervous moments and misplaced passes and the two managers must be waiting for half time to have a word with their players and get things sorted out.

SAVE! Wolfsburg threaten a goal before the break as Vieirinha latches onto De Bruyne's pass and dances his way into the box. He then looks to fire a low strike into the bottom corner, but Carrizo gets down well to palm away his effort.

There is going to be just a minute added on to the end of this first half.

HALF-TIME: Wolfsburg 1-1 Inter Milan

The first half is over and Wolfsburg have come from behind to level the scores against Inter Milan. A finely taken goal by Palacio was cancelled out by a Naldo header, in what has been a very open and entertaining game of football.

Wolfsburg's Brazilian defender Naldo scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League first-leg, Round of 16 football match VfL Wolfsburg vs FC Internazionale Milano in Wolfsburg, northern Germany on March 12, 2015© Getty Images


This match really could go either way and at the moment it's hard to call a winner. Inter started so well and they deservedly took an early lead, but the hosts have forced their way back into the contest and ended the half strongly.

Let's take a quick look at the other games that are taking place across Europe this evening. Zenit St Petersburg have boosted their hopes of reaching the last eight, by claiming a 2-0 win over 10-man Torino. Elsewhere, Club Brugge and Besiktas are currently goalless in their clash, while Dnipro have a 1-0 lead over Ajax.

Inter Milan take the kick off and get the second half started. There has also been a change at the break for the hosts, with Trasch coming on to replace Schurrle.

SHOT! Wolfsburg have certainly made a far better start to this half, than they did in the opening 45 minutes. They are putting the Inter defence under some heavy pressure and they have a decent chance when Guilavogui works some room on the edge of the box, before curling narrowly wide of the far post.

Carrizo has looked unconvincing in the Inter goal and he causes some panic at the back when he spills a low cross from De Bruyne. His defenders react quickly and hammer the danger clear, but Mancini will be far from happy at his keeper.

SHOT! This is a great spell in the game for Wolfsburg and Rodriguez has a crack from range with a powerful effort. It is well hit, but this time Carrizo shows better handling and manages to keep hold of the strike.

CHANCE! The hosts are still knocking at the door and they really should have taken the lead here. Trasch whips a wonderful low ball in from the right that flashes across the box and Guilavogui is inches away from getting a touch.

CHANCE! Palacio has just wasted a monumental chance to find the net for Inter. He is found in acres of space inside the box by Santon and he has plenty of time to think about what he is going to do, before placing an effort narrowly wide of the top corner. A striker of his quality should have scored from there and the Argentine really can have no excuses.

SUBSTITUTION: Inter are going to make their first change of the match, with Vidic replacing Hernanes.

GOAL! Wolfsburg 2-1 Inter Milan (Kevin De Bruyne)

I've already spoken about how poor Carrizo has looked and the keeper has just had an absolute howler to gift Wolfsburg the lead. He blindly plays a pass to his left looking for Jesus, but Vieirinha nips in and steals the ball. The winger then pulls the ball across the box for De Bruyne, who keeps his cool to slot a low strike into the bottom corner. It was such a poor goal to concede and now the hosts are in charge of this tie.

Of course Handanovic is Inter's usual number one keeper and although he hasn't featured much in the Europa League, Mancini will surely have to start him next week. Carrizo's decision making has been poor and at times his nervousness has spilled over to the defenders in front of him.

SUBSTITUTION: Dost has had a very quiet evening for Wolfsburg and the striker is now being replaced by Bendtner.

YELLOW CARD! Naldo goes into the book for the hosts for cynically hauling down Shaqiri. That booking means that he will now miss next week's second leg at the San Siro.

GOAL! Wolfsburg 3-1 Inter Milan (Kevin De Bruyne)

It's a third goal for Wolfsburg and it's brilliant from De Bruyne. The Belgian curls in a free kick from just outside the box that finds the bottom corner and leaves Carrizo helpless. Once again, the keeper didn't exactly cover himself in glory and the hosts are well and truly on top now.

Despite a poor start to the evening, Wolfsburg really have dominated and they are pressing for a fourth goal. Inter have struggled to come up with a response in this second half and if they do concede again then they will have a mountain to climb next week.

CHANCE! It's another decent opportunity for the visitors as Caligiuri is played the ball quickly from a corner. He then looks to bend a strike across goal and into the top corner, but it flashes just wide of the post with Inter breathing sigh of relief.

SUBSTITUTION: Kovacic will come on for the last eight minutes for Inter, with Shaqiri the man to make way.

It's been a while since Inter threatened and they have a rare chance when Guarin is found in space outside the box. He fires in a low effort that ends up deflecting wide for a corner, but from the resulting set piece, they are unable to trouble the Wolfsburg backline.

SUBSTITUTION: Wolfsburg are going to make their final change of the night, with Perisic coming on for Vieirinha.

CHANCE! Inter are ending this match strongly now as they look for a crucial second away goal. Guarin causes some real danger in the Wolsfburg box with his low cross and the ball drops kindly to Icardi, who sees his close-range strike well blocked.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.

CHANCE! De Bruyne has been brilliant in this second half, but he should have scored a fourth goal for Wolfsburg here. He exchanges passes with Bendtner and finds himself with just the keeper to beat, before drilling a low shot across goal and wide of the post. Will that miss come back to haunt his side in the second leg?

FULL-TIME: Wolfsburg 3-1 Inter Milan

It's all over in Germany and Wolfsburg have come from behind to beat Inter Milan. Kevin De Bruyne's double in the second half has given his side a huge advantage and leaves the Italians needing to pull of a great comeback in next week's return.

Wolfsburg's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Wolfsburg's Portuguese striker Vieirinha during the UEFA Europa League first-leg, Round of 16 football match VfL Wolfsburg vs FC Internazionale Milano in W© Getty Images


Well, that's all from me today, but stick around as we've got plenty of live European coverage coming up. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. Goodbye!

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Wolfsburg's Dutch striker Bas Dost celebrates during the German first division Bundesliga football match SV Werder Bremen vs VfL Wolfsburg in Bremen, western Germany, on March 1, 2015
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