Romelu Lukaku kept Inter Milan’s hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 alive, with qualification from a Group B that includes stuttering Real Madrid going to the final matchday.
Lukaku struck twice in the second half to steer Inter to a 3-2 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday to set up a thrilling finale.
Alassane Plea had cancelled out Matteo Darmian’s 17th-minute opener in first-half stoppage time but Lukaku fired home to restore Inter’s 2-1 lead in the 64th minute and then tapped in his second goal nine minutes later to make it 3-1.
Plea cut the deficit in the 76th before but had an 84th-minute effort ruled out for offside by VAR, meaning Inter – on five points – could still progress with a win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Gladbach are top with eight points from five games, one ahead of Shakhtar and Real Madrid after the Ukrainians – who went second by virtue of their head-to-head record – beat the visiting Spaniards 2-0.
Bruno Dentinho finished off a Shakhtar counter-attack in the 57th minute, pouncing as Raphael Varane dithered, and then Manor Solomon was allowed to drive from halfway before striking a late second (82) as the Ukrainians completed a stunning double over the European heavyweights.
All four teams will battle to reach the last 16 on Wednesday December 9.
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