Inter’s Champions League adventure begins with a 2-2 draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach. After a stingy first half of emotions, the Nerazzurri pass in the 49th minute with Lukaku, good at resolving a scrum in the area. The Germans, never dangerous, found the equalizer in the 62nd minute with a penalty of Bensebaini (Vidal foul on Thuram). The Germans overturn it with Hofmann (84 ‘), after a stake by Lautaro e Lukaku avoid the prank in the 90 ‘.
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THE MATCH
Like last year, the Nerazzurri’s journey in Europe begins with a home draw, a 2-2 that leaves a lot of bad taste in the mouth and confirms the difficult moment of Conte’s boys, saved by the usual great Lukaku, but also unlucky , as the Germans never shot on goal in the first half and found two goals with the only two shots towards Handanovic. As in the derby individual mistakes weigh like boulders and tonight the unfortunate palm goes from Kolarov to Vidal: the Chilean obtained the penalty that thwarted the advantage and in the final Hofmann lost in the 1-2 match. Starting with the three points would have been even more important after the surprising result in Madrid, with Shakthar able to beat Real. The challenge in 6 days in Ukraine thus already becomes a race not to be mistaken.
Conte launches Eriksen and Sanchez, but the first half at San Siro does not honor such an important stage as that of the Champions League. The Germans defend themselves with order, but they never manage to find depth. So Handanovic is practically inactive. Little work also for colleague Sommer, scared only by a diagonal from Lukaku in the final. In the second half, Conte inserts Lautaro Martinez for Sanchez and Inter immediately becomes more dangerous. So when Lukaku unravels the scrum in the 49th minute, the game seems to take the right turn. At game time, however, a naive foul by Vidal on Thuram gives Bensebaini the 1-1 penalty. Inter created chances with Darmian, Eriksen and Perisic and in the 82nd minute a fantastic right-footed shot from Lautaro hit the post to Sommer’s left. Bad signal and in fact Borussia overturns the match two minutes with Hofmann, who takes advantage of another sleep of Vidal. And when the joke seems to have been served, Lukaku at the far post puts behind Sommer after a spike from Batoni. Kolarov’s free-kick in the 97th minute only gives the illusion of a goal (winger), but the result doesn’t change anymore. The Champions League group is already uphill.
REPORT CARDS
Luke 7.5 – Once again the man of Providence. Unfortunately his brace is not enough to start with a victory, but the Belgian is confirmed in extraordinary form.
Eriksen 6 – Small signs of growth of the Dane, who in the first half is the Inter player who tries the conclusion most often. A few good plays, but nothing exciting.
Vidal 4 – A match to forget that of the Chilean, who fights and fights but his impetuousness costs Inter dearly. Naive about Thuram’s penalty, he is surprised by Hofmann in the 1-2. Then Lukaku remedies, but he had already made a bad impression on him.
Hofmann 6,5 – Bravo in surprising Vidal on the occasion of the goal that almost gave the coup to Borussia. In midfield one of the most positive and proactive.
Neuhaus 6,5 – Good performance by the 23-year-old German who at San Siro confirms what is said about him at home. Good geometries and excellent sense of position.
Plea 5 – Bad evening for the Frenchman, good at retreating but never finding depth and never shooting.
THE TABLE
INTER-BORUSSIA MOENCHENGLADBACH 2-2
Inter (3-4-1-2)Stk #: Handanovic 6; D’Ambrosio 5.5, De Vrij 6.5, Kolarov 6; Darmian 6.5, Barella 6, Vidal 4, Perisic 5 (34 ‘st Bastoni sv); Eriksen 6 (34 ‘st Brozovic 6); Sanchez 5.5 (1 ‘st Lautaro Martinez 6.5), Lukaku 7.5. Available: Padelli, Stankovic, Ranocchia, Boscolo Chio, Moretti, Nainggolan, Squizzato, Pinamonti. All.: Conte 6
Borussia Moenchengladbach (4-3-3): Summer 6.5; Lainer 6, Ginter 6, Elvedi 6.5, Bensebaini 6.5; Hofmann 6.5, Kramer 6, Neuhaus 6.5; Embolo 5 (29 ‘st Herrmann 6), Plea 5, Thuram 6 (50’ st Wolf sv). Available: Sippel, Grün, M. Lang, Stindl, Traoré, Wendt, Jantschke, Reitz. All .: Rose 6
Referee: Kuipers (Olanda)
Markers: 4′ st e 45′ st Lukaku (I), 17′ st rig. Bensebaini (B), 39′ st Hofmann (B)
Ammonites: D’Ambrosio (I), De Vrij (I), Kramer (B), Handanovic (I)
Expelled: –
Note: –
THE STATISTICS
Considering all the competitions, Inter have not found success for three games in a row only for the second time under Antonio Conte (after December 2019).
Inter have not drawn a Champions League match against a German team since October 2008 (1-1 against Werder Bremen).
Inter conceded a goal in the 63rd minute with the first shot in the mirror faced in this match.
Inter have conceded at least one goal in all of their last six games across all competitions (12 total) after keeping clean sheets in six of the previous seven (one passive goal).
Inter Milan are the first team not to suffer any Champions League first-half shot from Bayern Munich in November 2019 against Red Star.
With two goals in this match, Romelu Lukaku has already equaled the tally collected in the Champions League in the last two editions of the competition (with Manchester United and Inter Milan).
Romelu Lukaku has found the goal in all of his last nine European competition matches played with Inter, scoring 11 goals in the set.
Romelu Lukaku has taken part in all of Inter’s last six Champions League goals, thanks to four goals and two assists.
Third double in the Champions League for Romelu Lukaku, the first with the Inter shirt.Considering all the competitions, Inter have not found success for three games in a row only for the second time under Antonio Conte (after December 2019) .
Inter have not drawn a Champions League match against a German team since October 2008 (1-1 against Werder Bremen).
Inter conceded a goal in the 63rd minute with the first shot in the mirror faced in this match.
Inter have conceded at least one goal in all of their last six games across all competitions (12 total) after keeping clean sheets in six of the previous seven (one passive goal).
Inter Milan are the first team not to suffer any Champions League first-half shot from Bayern Munich in November 2019 against Red Star.
With two goals in this match, Romelu Lukaku has already equaled the tally collected in the Champions League in the last two editions of the competition (with Manchester United and Inter Milan).
Romelu Lukaku has found the goal in all of his last nine European competition matches played with Inter, scoring 11 goals in the set.
Romelu Lukaku has taken part in all of Inter’s last six Champions League goals, thanks to four goals and two assists.
Third double in the Champions League for Romelu Lukaku, the first with the Inter shirt.
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