Inter Milan vs Shakhtar Donetsk: 5 Hits and Flops | Europa League 2019-20

Inter Milan roared into the final of the 2019-20 Europa League after an emphatic 5-0 win over hapless Shakhtar Donetsk in Dusseldorf's Esprit Arena.

A brace each from Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukau either side of Danilo D'Ambrosio's strike put the Nerazzurri into their first European final since 2010.

The Miners, who've had a good run in the competition themselves, were kept at arm's length by some solid defending from Inter Milan as they exit the competition on a whimper.

Whereas for Antonio Conte and co., it's Sevilla up next in Friday's showpiece clash in Cologne which promises to be an absolute cracker. On that note, here are the hits and flops from the match:

Five Hits and Flops in Inter Milan' 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk:

Hit: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

Lautaro Martinez combined well with Romelu Lukaku, assisting him once while netting twice himself.

It hadn't been a memorable return to action from the lockdown for Lautaro Martinez.

Having improved manifold under the tutelage of Antonio Conte this season, the Argentine appeared to have run out of steam during the home stretch of Serie A but after two strikes against Shakhtar Donetsk, it's safe to infer that he's peaking again.

Martinez looked sharp and back at his rip-roaring best. He opened the scoring for Inter Milan by clinically latching onto to Nicolo Barella's cross. He then netted his second with a delicate finish from a tight angle to truly mark his return to form just in time ahead of the showpiece clash with Sevilla.

Flop: Andriy Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Andriy Pyatov was quashed underneath a barrage of goals from Inter Milan.

The last remnant of the Shakhtar team which won the UEFA Cup in 2009, Andriy Pyatov has had remarkable longevity but, perhaps that's the only plus point about him.

The 36-year-old Ukrainian came a cropper against Inter Milan. He produced a sloppy clearance which allowed Inter Milan to strike first before he was subjected to bombardment in the second stanza.

He wasn't at fault for any of the four goals in that period but, Pyatov didn't do much about them either, being easily beaten by the Nerazzurri as the scoreline kept widening.

Hit: Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

Romelu Lukaku just cannot stop scoring.

Blimey, do you even recognise this guy? Romelu Lukaku has been on a roll since switching Manchester United for Inter Milan last summer, firing goals left, right and centre.

Having struck in each of his last nine games in the competition, the burly Belgian continued his hot streak by bagging two more to take his tally to 33 for the season.

Until the 75th minute, it looked as if Lukaku's record of netting in nine consecutive Europa League games was coming to an end,as he couldn't carve out clear-cut chances. However, he put all doubts to bed with a quickfire double.

Lukaku's first was an unstoppable outside-of-the-boot finish from a tight angle, but his second was simply sensational as he waltzed up a few yards before firing from underneath Andriy Pyatov to add more gloss to the scoreline.

He's going to take some stopping from Sevilla in the final.

Flop: Shakhtar Donetsk's attack

The Ukrainian side managed just one shot on target all night.

It had more to do with Inter Milan's stoic defending than Shakhtar's terrible attacking, for they were completely nullified with some brilliant work at the back from the Italian side.

The Miners, who dominated possession, weren't penetrative with their passes and failed to convert their plays into chances. Most of their juices flowed down the right, with Dodo running towards the byline to get a low cross in, while Marlos moved inside into a more central position.

Junior Moraes, the striker with 22 goals for the season, looked like a pale shadow of his self, devoid of any service upfront. But when he did receive one, he headed his effort tamely at Samir Handanovic as he missed a great opportunity to equalise for Shakhtar Donestsk.

Hit: Inter Milan's set-piece ability

Inter Milan struck from a set-piece again.

The Nerazzurri have been really menacing from set-pieces this season, netting 15 times from such situations. Cross that and make it 16 after another one on the night against Shakhtar Donestsk.

Marcelo Brozovic played in a corner which Danilo D'Ambrosio, who's often positioned at the back post during corners, headed into the back of the net with little hesitation.

Set-pieces have become Inter Milan's secret sauce in finding crucial goals, and this could play a part in the final against Sevilla who've proved to be tough to score against from open play in the Europa League this season.