Inter Milan held Porto to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, with a 1-0 aggregate win. The formation of Italy, who won the competition three times, reached the fourth round for the last time since 2011. For the first time since 2006, Inter and AC Milan reached the quarter-finals. With a one-goal advantage over Romelu Lukaku's last-16 winner in the first leg, Inter braced for disappointment at the Estadio do Dragao.

Porto had the better of the game but managed to test Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana a few times and failed to qualify for the third time in their last five attempts.

Their best chance came at the end of stoppage time, when Mehdi Taremi and Marko Grujic both hit the post and Marcano made an effort clear from the line.

"There are so many emotions right now, after so many years we are proud of this achievement," Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu said.

"We made some mistakes but we did a great job, it was very difficult but I congratulate the team for the great job."

Inter were criticized for their home form, but Calhanoglu said the game boosted their morale.

"Anything can happen in the Champions League -- this match restores motivation for us," he added.

"We did a great job, we didn't score but we worked hard until the final whistle and we qualified."

Looking to end the poor form from home, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi started Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez up front, with first leg winner Romelu Lukaku on the bench.

Porto have a strong recent record against Italian teams, beating Juventus and Roma in recent years, but the Portuguese champions could not beat Inter in 180 minutes.

They couldn't add the fan favorite Pepe, 40, to the team, stripped of its captain at the last minute.

Porto was also without Otavio, kicked out of the San Siro, but Stephen Eustaquio replaced him and impressed.

Matheus Uribe hit a poor save in the Inter goal early on, while Porto keeper Diogo Costa saved well from Dzeko and Nicolo Barella. Sergio Conceicao's team were in the lead in the first half and only a good penalty by Federico Dimarco denied Evanilson.

The host could have taken the lead before the break, but Eustaquio couldn't reach a cross that attempted Brazilian striker Pepe.

- Desperate Porto -

Grujic tested Andre Onana in poor training as Porto grew rapidly, while Galeno forced the Cameroon international to quit.

Inter lost Alessandro Bastoni to an apparent injury but held on to a narrow advantage in the first leg.

Milan Skriniar returned from injury in the final as Inzaghi's side collapsed and denied Porto at every turn.

Porto's clearest chance of the game came in stoppage time, when Denzel Dumfries cleared Marcano's effort on the line.

The Portuguese team hit the woodwork twice in a dramatic finish, Onana flicking Taremi's header onto the post, before Grujic headed in a cross.

"In the second half we were better, more possession and more opportunities -- I still can't believe the ball didn't go in," Grujic said.

"The fans were supportive and it was good to see that they understood that we gave everything. We really wanted to win the game.

"The Dragao atmosphere was spectacular and now we are very disappointed."

Porto wide man Pepe was sent off for a second yellow card at the death as Inter survived a late attack.

The Italians have won just one game on the road in 2023 and Inzaghi is under pressure, but progress in the quarter-finals gives him a chance to breathe.