Real Madrid pip Inter in Champions League

Inter Milan returned to San Siro in the Champions League with the supporters in attendance but sadly, the final result didn’t go their way as they lost 0-1 to Real Madrid.

However, there were plenty of positives.

Inter racked up 14 shots on goal in the first half alone, but Thibaut Courtois was in fine form.

The star for Inter was Milan Skriniar who seemed to be intent on singlehandedly denying Real Madrid, as he turned in a host of crucial tackles and clearances.

Simone Inzaghi’s side lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, while Carlo Ancelotti’s charges were in a classic 4-3-3 system.

David Alaba was at centre-back, Nacho at full-back with Luka Modric dictating the play and Vinicius Jr and Lucas Vazquez supporting Karim Benzema.

Inter dominate

Inter dominated the first half with Lautaro and then Dzeko going agonisingly close to opening the scoring.

Lautaro would be disappointed that his header from Ivan Perisic’s cross was directed straight at the goalkeeper.

Yet again, Courtois had to be at full stretch to deny Dzeko as the first half neared its conclusion.

Real had a Casemiro shot from long range to show for their attacking endeavours and a free header for Militao that the defender steered wide.

With 14 shots to Real Madrid’s five, Inter’s dominance was clear, but the goal just would not come.

The fast tempo in the first half could not last throughout the contest.

The visitors forged more attacks down the right through Dani Carvajal as they tried to pin the Nerazzurri back, with Vinicius adding an element of unpredictability to their attack.

Skriniar, however, was able to foresee almost everything as he thwarted attack after attack with his flawless anticipation.

As the game wore on, Real Madrid applied more pressure before Denzel Dumfries entered the fray to try to use his pace to the hosts’ advantage.

Ancelotti made some changes of his own, with new signing Eduardo Camavinga setting up Rodrygo to score the winner, just as he did last season, with a minute left of regulation time.

It was a hard blow to take, but based on this performance, we tip Inter to do well this season.

INTER 0-1 REAL MADRID

Scorer: Rodrygo 89.

INTER (3-5-2): Handanovic, Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni, Darmian(Dumfries), Barella (Vecino), Brozovic, Calhanoglu (Vidal), Perisic (Dimarco), Dzeko, Lautaro (Correa)

Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Nacho, Valverde, Casemiro, Modric(Camavinga, Vazquez(Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr(Asensio).

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.