What the papers say: 'Final crucial move missing'

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports: "In the end, the Italians won an equally exciting as intensive clash 2-1. They were simply more dangerous in the penalty area and outstanding in defence in the exciting closing stages. But those weren't the only qualities of the side from Milan. The pressure the team exerted was enormous from the start. Every time a Leverkusen play received the ball, he had an opponent on his back even in their own penalty area." At the same time, the newspaper does underline Leverkusen's improvement in the second half: "It was now an open game where Bayer tried to play with more energy and commitment after the break. Leverkusen had more and more possession in the Italian’s half after the break but again and again the final crucial move was missing. Only once did Havertz just fail to connect with a cross from Leon Bailey in the six-yard box."

"The end of a dream," was the headline in the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger. The report reads: "Leverkusen did have a lot of possession – albeit only in and around their own penalty area. The attempts to build up play with short passes was again and again undermined by slight errors. Inter Milan showed no sign of making similar mistakes but instead ruthlessly exploited those of Bayer 04. (…) The match remained open after half-time. Bayer 04 showed all the courage they declared before the game. Led by the increasingly impressive Havertz, there was more structure in the game even if clear chances were missing. Demirbay tried his luck with a long-range effort on the hour mark but Samir Handanovic was able to make the save. Bosz made attacking changes, bringing on Leon Bailey to provide a greater threat down the flanks. That again provided Milan with more space. All the tactical restraints gradually fell away and Hradecky kept his side in the game several times with good saves. At the other end, Havertz just failed to connect with an impressive Bailey cross. Cries of relief from the Milan bench echoed through the empty arena."

Hard-fought clash at a high level

The Kölnische Rundschau reports: "Bosz predicted an absolute top match and the Dutchman was proved to be right. From the start, both sides provided a hard-fought clash at a high level with lots of goalmouth action. The Italian runners-up made a more mature impression and were on the front foot early on to pose big problems to the Bayer defence. Above all, star striker Lukaku was difficult to get hold of."

The Bild Zeitung also ranks the muscular striker as the matchwinner: "End of the road against Inter because the Werkself were gobbled up by the Belgian bear Romelu Lukaku (27/1.91 m, 95 kg)! He was tame for the first quarter of an hour. Then he let loose! 15 minutes: Lukaku breaks into the penalty area, his shot is blocked. Barella curls the ball into the far corner with the outside of his foot – the opener. 21 minutes: This time Lukaku eats up central defender Tapsoba! With his back to the goal, he turns – and shoots as he falls. The ball rolls into the net to make it 2-0. Incredible: Lukaku is the first player to score in nine successive Euro League matches."

The online edition of the Kicker comes to the following conclusion: "Bayer Leverkusen lose 2-1 to Inter Milan and go out in the Europa League quarter-finals as the final German club. The Italians were the better side overall and produced more chances. In the end, Lukaku made the difference against Bosz' players who failed to pose a real threat for long periods of the game."

The Rheinische Post draws a similar conclusion: "Nobody stood still. Kerem Demirbay hit his calves to loosen up, Kevin Volland moved his hips and Kai Havertz checked his boots were on right. While the Europa League anthem blasted out through the almost completely empty Düsseldorf Arena, the tension was evident in the faces of the Bayer Leverkusen players – and that remained so in the following 90 minutes. Against a more physical and relaxed Inter Milan team, the Werkself finally came off second best in the quarter-finals of this short tournament."