Bitter debut for Simone Inzaghi’s Inter in the Champions League. Real Madrid beat the San Siro with a goal in the 90th minute by the Brazilian Rodrygo on the first day of Group D. An undeserved defeat, given that the best player of the team of Carlo Ancelotti was Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper defied all attempts by Lautaro and Dzeko as a champion, keeping Real in the game in the most difficult moments, when Inter seemed about to break the deadlock. Inzaghi’s guys have, in fact, dominated for long stretches, especially under the aspect of intensity. They were missing only in the final phase.
Once again the Nerazzurri find themselves starting uphill in the Champions League group and in the next round they will already have a fundamental meeting at Roberto De Zerbi’s Shakhtar Donetsk, today surprisingly defeated by the Sheriff. Inzaghi lines up a 3-5-2 with Handanovic in goal; Skriniar, de Vrij and Bastoni in defense; Darmian on the right, Barella, Brozovic and Calhanoglu in the middle, Perisic on the left; forward the Dzeko-Lautaro couple. In Real Madrid, Ancelotti points forward on the trident made up of Vazquez, Benzema and Vinicius with Hazard on the bench. After almost two years the public returns to San Siro also on the occasion of the Champions League, in the stands present about 37 thousand spectators all colored by Nerazzurri. All entered with a green pass.
Good start for Inter, the Nerazzurri first ring after five minutes with an attempt by Lautaro with the right saved by Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper repeats himself as a champion shortly after on Dzeko, served in the area by Lautaro. On the following corner, Skriniar headed a little high. Inter continues to push, Perisic also tries in a split with the ball on the outside of the net. So the first reaction of Real Madrid, with a right from distance of Casemiro just wide. Ancelotti’s team is more maneuverable, Inter Milan is deadly when it restarts. Nerazzurri close to scoring again in the 18th minute with a header from Lautaro, from a cross from the left by Perisic, thwarted by Courtois.
Just before the half hour Real is back dangerous: on a low and tense cross from Valverde’s right, Benzema, with an empty net, hits badly. Blancos still close to scoring a few minutes later with a header from Militao from Modric’s corner, just wide. Inter shakes and returns to worry Courtois, first with a header from Lautaro and then with a right from the edge of Perisic. In both circumstances, the ball is out of a breath. Before the interval the Nerazzurri were still very close to scoring with Dzeko, Courtois again passed on the right with a sure shot from the center of the Bosnian area.
The start of recovery is Real, the Spaniards immediately dangerous before with a foray by Carvajal thwarted by Skriniar with Vinicius stationed in the area. Then Benzema tries with a personal action still thwarted by the home rearguard. Inter’s reaction was immediate, with Dzeko’s header from a corner kick always foiled by a super Courtois. After ten minutes Inzaghi changes the outside: in Dumfries for Damian and Dimarco for Perisic. Vibrant game, with opportunities on both sides. Handanovic says no to Carvajal, then the Nerazzurri defense manages to stop Vinicius author of a drunken serpentine in the area.
After just over an hour of play, Inzaghi sends Correa to Lautaro and Vidal to Calhanoglu. With the onset of fatigue for the Inter defenders it is increasingly difficult to keep the burning accelerations of Vinicius, it is the young Brazilian that Real rely on to try to resolve the game. Right on his right-footed turn from an excellent position, de Vrij foils. Ten minutes from the end, Ancelotti plays the card of the baby phenomenon Camavinga in place of Modric. In the final, Vinicius tries again, on an assist from Benzema, the decisive closure of Skriniar saves Inter. Not for long. At 90 ‘splendid insertion and brilliant assist from Camavinga for the other newcomer Rodrygo who beats Handanovic all alone in the middle of the area. San Siro ice cream.