Feyenoord will need a miracle in Milan next week to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after being comprehensively beaten by Internazionale in De Kuip.

The Rotterdammers were unable to lay a glove on the Serie A league leaders, who scored a goal in each half through their strike partnership of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez.

Feyenoord pressed from the start and won five corners in the first 20 minutes in only Robin van Persie’s second match in charge. But their efforts produced just one serious chance when Ibrahim Osman’s shot was comfortably saved by Josep Martinez.

Inter scored from their first real chance when Denzel Dumfries, one of two Dutch defenders in the Italian side, made one of his trademark runs into the box from the right and delivered a high cross which Thuram volleyed in with the outside of his boot.

Five minutes after half-time Piotr Zielinski had a shot blocked, but the ball rebounded to the Polish midfielder and he worked it to Martinez to his right, who lashed in a shot at the near post.

Missed penalty

Inter were even able to allow themselves the luxury of a missed penalty on 67 minutes after Jayland Mitchell fouled Thuram, but Timon Wellenreuther dived low to his right to keep out Zielinski’s spot-kick and produce the biggest cheer of the night.

Captain David Hancko admitted that his team-mates struggled to match Inter for quality, but praised his team-mates for their tenacity, especially in the first half. “I’m proud of the boys because if you look at our squad you’d never expect us to be in this type of game,” he told Ziggo Sport.

“They’re great at defending, they’ve only conceded one goal so far in the Champions League so far and you saw that tonight. Second half they were controlling the game and it was more difficult for us.”

The second leg will be in Milan next Tuesday, March 11.