At Lumen Field in Seattle, Inter claimed the stage and first position in the group, defeating River Plate 2-0 in a tough and hard-fought match. Pio Esposito, who was making his debut as a starter for the Nerazzurri, broke the deadlock by scoring a goal that showcased the qualities of a genuine centre-forward: timing, composure, and positioning. After a tense and blocked first half with more challenges than chances, Chivu's players picked up the tempo in the second half and possibly had their best performance since the Romanian coach took over the bench. Bastoni sealed the victory by scoring the second goal during stoppage time, putting the finishing touch on a well-deserved win. Inter is now awaiting their next opponent, Fluminense, in the round of 16, which is scheduled to take place on Monday at 9:00 p.m. The journey is still long, but the future appears to have a name: Pio Esposito.