The taboo remains and that only 1967 victory for Helenio Herrera’s Inter. At the ‘Bernabeu’ the Nerazzurri once again hit the Real Madrid wall, lost 2-0 to Ancelotti’s battleship and had to settle for second place in the group, a theoretically ‘uncomfortable’ position that put them at risk of a draw. just easy. But in the Madrid night it was not enough courage, dedication and sacrifice to get the better of the ‘merengues’ and win a night at the top of the class. A cynical, attentive, ‘poisonous’ Real at the right moment, first made Inter ‘vent’ and its resourcefulness in the first minutes and then immediately stung the first thrust with Kroos and legitimizing the result with a series of dangerous actions, a post and Asensio’s goal in the 79th minute that closed the score. However, dreams were already broken in the 64th minute when Barella was sent off for having reacted, in a manner judged broken by the referee, against Militao, who in entering decisively on the Nerazzurri midfielder threw him against the barriers. From that moment Inter have lost measures and courage, reset and only found a way to end the match by limiting the passive and managing the energies in view of the next championship matches. On the other hand, Real confirmed its qualities and the compactness of a group of great personalities that showed that they always had the match under control, even when they found themselves subjected to the offensive but sterile actions of the Nerazzurri for most of the first half.
Inzaghi decides to give continuity to D’Ambrosio in the three-man defense while forward confidence in the Dzek-Lautaro couple with Dumfries and Perisic on the flanks. Ancelotti, who has to do without Benzema, ranks Jovic in the trident completed by Rodrygo and the darting Vinicius, making the rest no changes compared to the match won against Tiraspol. Inter started off with great personality and built a couple of dangerous actions on them. Real only accelerates when they find some spaces that the Nerazzurrim, lined up well in midfield, do not allow. But the ‘blancos’ confirm their qualities with singles, they play at low rhythms relying on sudden flare-ups especially with Vinicius, one of the most active. And at the first real lunge the Madrid players, taking advantage of a lack of reading by Barella on a horizontal pass by Rodrygo, hit the mark with a splendid goal from Kross who with a tense left shoves the ball into the far corner. It is the club’s 1000th goal in the major continental tournament. Inter does not break down, they continue their game vertically. As the speed of the dribble increases, it becomes more dangerous. Win a series of corners that testify will, determination and courage. Qualities that however do not go hand in hand with finalization. To find the way of the goal we try first Perisic, then Dzeko, Brozovic and Calhanoglu with an oversized conclusion after a well-planned action. The match continues to be played by Inter who play stably in the opposing half of the pitch but Real is much more concrete and poisonous especially in the restart phase. in depth Jovic who with a touch underneath exceeds Handanovic but the ball ends up on the outside of the net. Then it is Rodrygo, following a pass from Kroos, who hits the post with the Nerazzurri goalkeeper immobile. For Real, therefore, four or five plays in 45 ‘were enough to direct the match.
In the second half, Inzaghi replaces Dumfries with Dimarco, placing D’Ambrosio more sideways to get more thrust. More rhythm is needed but it is Real once again that becomes dangerous with the usual Vinicius who invents for Jovic who manages to conclude from a tight angle. At the Nerazzaurra home nothing changes and then the coach opts for three changes in the 60th, bringing in Sanchez, Vecino and Vidal, for Dzeko Calhanoglu and Brozovic. The intention is also to let the players breathe in view of the next matches. A minute later Inter find themselves in 10 for the expulsion of Barella, guilty of a reaction foul after being pushed against the barriers by Militao. Inter broke up, lost their measures and concentration and Real Madrid took the opportunity to seal the match with Asensio who, on the development of a corner, invented a perfect arc from the edge that slips into the far post. The ‘merengues’ also risk scoring the third goal but for this Inter, however courageous and combative, it would have been too severe a punishment.