Inter Milan’s exit from the UEFA Champions League ensued following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Atletico Madrid, thereby accentuating the persistent issues the club has grappled with from penalty kicks over the years.
The Nerazzurri relinquished a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano during the Round of 16 encounter. The deadlock between the two sides could only be resolved through a penalty shoot-out, marking Inter’s first such instance in the European Cup/Champions League in 52 years, since their victorious encounter against Celtic in the 1972 European Cup semi-final.
However, their fortunes drastically differed this time as Atletico Madrid emerged victorious with a 3-2 margin on penalties. Notably, Jan Oblak’s saves from Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen, coupled with Lautaro Martinez’s missed attempt over the bar, sealed Inter’s fate.
The outcome, albeit disappointing, aligns with a recurring pattern observed by followers of Inter, who have long witnessed the team’s struggles from penalty kicks. Lautaro Martinez, for instance, has only successfully converted 17 out of 27 penalties throughout his career, including shoot-outs, and notably missed both opportunities for Inter against Lazio in the 2019 Coppa Italia and Atletico Madrid in the recent encounter.
Similarly, Alexis Sanchez’s track record from penalty kicks remains subpar, with a conversion rate of only 16 out of 29 attempts in his career. On a positive note, Hakan Calhanoglu exhibited proficiency this season, converting all nine of his penalties for Inter, and notably contributing to the team’s endeavors, including the recent shoot-out. However, the inconsistency persists, as Sanchez managed to convert only two out of two in regular matches, while Martinez succeeded in three out of five attempts.