With both sides needing a win, coupled with some luck from results elsewhere, for any realistic chance of progressing straight through to the round of 16, they both erred on the side of caution throughout the first half, but there were certainly chances for an opener.
Dortmund were the livelier side during the early exchanges, but Serhou Guirassy squandered a gilt-edged opportunity when Julian Ryerson played it to him with space and time in the six-yard box, scuffing towards the target on the turn and into the hands of Yann Sommer.
Inter couldn’t quite match that with their own chances, but still could easily have taken the lead themselves. Federico Dimarco’s powerful volley might have troubled Gregor Kobel more had it swung either side of the Dortmund stopper, before Yann Bisseck ventured upfield to hook one just over.
Ange-Yoan Bonny perhaps should have done better with a back-post header just before the break, an effort which epitomised the first-half’s attacking play.
That didn’t change much after the break, but news that scores elsewhere might leave the door open for the victor here gradually helped to increase the tempo.
The visitors subsequently turned up the heat and had a pair of chances through Francesco Pio Esposito, the second of which was brilliantly taken off his boot by a sliding Ramy Bensebaini.
Dortmund also troubled in the final third, but it was ultimately last season’s UCL runners-up who took a late lead. Henrikh Mkhitaryan won a free-kick on the edge of Dortmund’s area, and Dimarco stepped up to beautifully curl over the wall.
Dortmund never looked like responding to that, and Inter instead made it two when Andy Diouf worked some space in the area and rolled in a deflected finish in stoppage time.
Inter had played their part, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as late winners for Chelsea and Sporting knocked them down to 10th place on goal difference, meaning they will have to take part in the play-off.
They will be joined by Dortmund, who progress despite slipping out of the seeded play-off positions after failing to win their last three league phase matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Federico Dimarco (Inter)
