Romelu Lukaku scored for a record ninth consecutive Europa League game as Inter Milan squeezed past Bayer Leverkusen in Dusseldorf to reach the semi-finals.
Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give the Serie A side the lead before Lukaku controlled Ashley Young’s pass, turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season.
Chelsea transfer target Kai Havertz smashed home from six yards out to give Leverkusen hope but they could not find a leveller to force extra time in the one-off tie.
Antonio Conte’s side will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk v Basel in the semi-final on 17 August, also in Dusseldorf.
Lukaku is the first player to ever score in nine Uefa Cup or Europa League matches in a row, although that run includes five games for Everton in 2014-15.
He twice prepared to take a penalty – in the first half and in injury time at the end – but both times the decisions were overturned by the video assistant referee.
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