MILAN. Inter are back in the running in the Champions League group thanks to the theoretically easier victory, with Sheriff Tiraspol at San Siro. A commitment that, however, had become complicated after the successes of the Moldovans with Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid. In fact, it was not a walk in the park because Sheriff managed to get back to Inter after Dzeko’s initial advantage, the Nerazzurri’s first goal in this Champions League after two dry matches. The second half, however, was decidedly easier, placed downhill by the goals of Vidal and De Vrij. Now the Nerazzurri can overtake Sheriff in 2nd place in two weeks away to Tiraspol, in a group that has simplified after Real’s goal in Kiev with Shakhtar.
Simone Inzaghi chooses the maximum offensive propulsion with Dimarco central defensive in place of Bastoni; Dumfries and Perisic on the flanks. Too important to delete the number zero from the item of goals scored so as not to press the accelerator from the list. But the appointment with the opposing network will not be immediate. The deputy Celeadnic does not make us regret the owner Athanasiadis, a true phenomenon of the Moldovan team, who remained at home injured. Celeadnic saves on Dumfries, Dzeko, Dimarco and Perisic. Dumfries also kicks on the outside of the net from a great position. The Dutch full-back is very wrong, but he is a plunger. The Sheriff responds with some dangerous source reversals. Bruno is the all-rounder who has to sew between departments, sometimes transforming the lineup of guests into a five-man defense. However, the offensive vocation of the Moldovans who risk every Nerazzurri incursion does not change, at the same time giving the impression of being able to sting when they leave. The surrender arrives in the 34th minute when Dzeko is very good at harpooning a corner of Dimarco on the fly. A real liberation for the Nerazzurri fans who, after more than three and a half hours of fasting, can savor the first goal of the season in the Champions League.
Everything becomes easier, even if in the 41st minute Cristiano calls Handanovic in the first save on the evening of his 400 Nerazzurri appearances. It seems only a parenthesis in the Inter monologue. But the Sheriff does not want to return to the ranks and silences the San Siro with a 30-meter free-kick from the usual Luxembourgian Thill, who had already frozen the Santiago Bernabeu three weeks ago. The brave 20 Sheriff fans celebrate at the third ring. The temperature on the stadium drops well below the 15 degrees marked on the thermometer. The chills, however, do not last long. Thanks to Dzeko who on 13 ‘catches Vidal in the area. The Chilean returns rapacious as in the good old days and scores his first goal in the Champions League with Inter (he had not scored in the competition since 12 April 2017 when he was still at Bayern Munich (against Real). This time the Sheriff fails to return to At 22 ‘De Vrij made the decisive elongation ending with a shot in the area an all-Dutch combination, initiated by Dumfries’ head assist.
San Siro breathes a sigh of relief, with the effect amplified by the score that appears at that moment on the scoreboard: Porto-Milan 1-0. The news coming from Kiev where Real Madrid demolishes Shakhtar Donetsk are also substantially positive, putting De Zerbi’s team almost out of the game. With a win in Tiraspol in two weeks, Inter would enter the top two of the group with a view to qualification. The final game seems almost the prologue of what will happen in Moldova. Inter try to further weaken Sheriff’s morale by continuing to push and hitting a crossbar with Perisic. It is the first regret for the surprise of this Champions League. The Italian Champions are back to seeing the European goal.
INTER 3
SHERIFF 1
Inter (3-5-2): Handanovic 6; Skriniar 6, De Vrij 6.5, Dimarco 6 (7 ‘st Bastoni 6.5); Dumfries 6.5, Barella 6.5, Brozovic 6.5 (40 ‘st Sensi sv), Vidal 7 (30’ st Gagliardini sv), Perisic 6.5 (40 ‘st Kolarov sv); Dzeko 7 (30 ‘st Sanchez sv), Lautaro 5.5. All .: S. Inzaghi 6.5.
Sheriff (4-2-3-1): Celeadnic 6.5; Costanza 6, Arboleda 5.5, Dulanto 5, Cristiano 6.5; Thill 6.5, Addo 6 (30 ‘st Nikolov sv); Castaneda 5.5 (1 ‘st Radeljic 5.5), Kolovos 6 (38’ st Cojocaru sv), Bruno 6.5; Traoré 5.5 (45 ‘st Cojocari). All .: Vernydub 6.
Referee: Makkelie (Olanda) 6
Reti: pt 34′ Dzeko; st 7′ Thill, 13′ Vidal, 22′ De Vrij
Ammonites: Dimarco, Cojocaru
Spectators: 43,305