December 10 – Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the third consecutive season on Wednesday night following a goalless draw with Shakthar Donetsk, who were also eliminated, allowing Real Madrid to squeeze into the knockout phase.
To make matters worse for Antonio Conte’s team, they will not even have the consolation of a place in the Europa League having finished bottom of their group.
In a nail-biting final group series of matches, Borussia Moenchengladbach were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid but still managed to advance along with the 13-time tournament winners who, after a stop-start campaign, managed to win their group with 10 points.
“There are a lot of regrets, however, I sincerely do not feel that there has been a lack of cunning, determination or concentration,” said Conte whose team had thumped Shakhtar 5-0 in last season’s Europa League semi-finals but join Manchester United on the sidelines of UEFA’s elite competition as one of the biggest casualties.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid made it through to the last 16 after a 2-0 victory at Red Bull Salzburg, finishing second in their group behind holders Bayern Munich.
And in the winner-takes-all clash in Amsterdam, Atalanta finished second in Group D, behind Liverpool, after a late goal gave the Italian side a 1-0 win at Ajax, who had Ryan Gravenberch sent off shortly beforehand.
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