Inter Milan return to Champions League duty with an immense challenge facing them, as they currently sit at the bottom of the group after losing the reverse fixture in Madrid through a late strike from Rodrygo. Real Madrid will be looking to win again as it would put them at 2nd place in the group after Shakhtar lost to Gladbach earlier today. If Inter Milan manage to win this one, it would leave it all to play for with them sitting only a point above 3rd and 4th. One thing is for certain, after the reverse fixture, this will be an entertaining affair.
Lineups
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
KICK OFF
2′- Inter earn the first corner of the game as Carvajal blocks a cross from Lautaro Martinez as Lukaku was ahead of Real’s centre backs and would’ve only had Courtois to beat if the cross found him.
5′- Real Madrid win themselves a penalty as Nacho is tripped in Inter’s box by Nico Barella before Anthony Taylor points to the spot. Eden Hazard is stepping up to take this.
7′- Goal – Eden Hazard
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Belgian calmly puts the ball into the bottom right of the goal with Handanovic guessing the right way but he wasn’t quick enough to prevent Hazard getting only his third goal for Real and his first Champions League goal for the Spanish giants.
13′- Lucas Vasquez strikes the post after a long period of possession from Real with Handanovic left flat-footed as the ball rebounds off the woodwork and is cleared away by Inter.
17′- Real are controlling this game and should be ahead by two as Ferland Mnedy wins the ball from a lazy pass by Arturo Vidal and finds himself through in the box after a nice one-two with Hazard but, surprisingly, he chooses to pass to Vasquez who wasn’t ready for the cross. The Frenchman should’ve gone for goal there.
21′- Inter get the ball into the final third as Lukaku holds the ball up well on the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Hakimi who decides to cut it back to Vidal who smashes the ball over the bar. Inter are really struggling to mount any pressure onto Real so far.
24′- Anthony Taylor pulls play back for an Inter Milan free kick just outside the box after Lucas Vasquez pushed Arturo Vidal. This is a great opportunity to equalise for Inter. Ashley Young and Romelu Lukaku are over this.
26′- Lukaku takes the free kick and curls the ball over Courtois’ goal with the Belgian goalkeeper not looking troubled by his international team-mate’s effort.
31′- Kroos fancies his chances from long range as he forces a shot way off target. Real Madrid aren’t getting any pressure from Inter and look completely in control at the moment.
33′- Red Card – Arturo Vidal
Embed from Getty ImagesInter fail to be awarded a penalty after Vidal goes down in the box and as soon as play is stopped the Inter players surround Anthony Taylor with Vidal receiving a yellow card for his behaviour towards the Premier League referee but the Chilean international refuses to take the warning and proceeds to protest the referee’s decision leaving Taylor with the easy decision to Vidal his second yellow card in a minute and send the midfielder off. Inter Milan have a mountain to climb now.
38′- Real look really comfortable now with the Italian side knowing they can’t afford to risk leaving themselves open with a man down against Real. Conte needs his side to keep the score as it is at half time or the game may already be lost.
45′- Barella misplaces a pass out of play with Inter playing like a side which has accepted defeat. Antonio Conte has one hell of a challenge on his hands during half time.
Two minutes of injury time to play
HT Inter Milan 0-1 Real Madrid
Real go into half time, the deserved leader’s, with Inter left with it all to do as they find themselves a man down after Arturo Vidal foolishly continued to protest the referee’s decision to wave away Inter’s claims for a penalty. Conte’s men need to start the second half well or it may be curtains for them.
Second Half
46′- Inter Milan substitutions
49′ Real Madrid win a corner after Ferland Mendy gets his cross blocked. Madrid are finding themselves in too much space in the midfield as Inter have retreated due to the red card. Real have started the second half just how they played in the first, in absolute control.
52′- Inter win a free kick in a decent position for a delivery before Ashley Young’s in-swinger is headed clear but Inter want a penalty as De Vrij finds himself on the floor after competing for the ball.
53′- De Vrij nearly gets his side level as an Ashley Young corner finds Lukaku at the back post who nods the ball down to the Dutchman who is reaching for the ball with his foot but Nacho Fernandez is there first and clears for Real. Inter are not giving up on their Champions League hopes just yet.
54′- Inter Milan are suddenly having an extended period of play in Real’s third of the pitch fir the first time in the game as Lukaku is open in the box, ready to equalise for the home side but the ball fails to reach him and Madrid clear.
58′- Real Madrid substitutions
59′- Goal – Rodrygo
Embed from Getty ImagesThe teenage Brazilian sensation gives Real a two-goal lead as Vasquez provides an out-swinging cross to the back post where Rodrygo is completely open to score with his first touch and cause heart break for Inter yet again.
64′- Inter Substitution
69′- Toni Kroos floats a free kick delivery to the back post where Vasquez can watch the ball fall at his feet before volleying the ball into the side netting. It almost looked like time stood still there as Vasquez had all the time in the world to wait for the ball.
74′- Inter haven’t recovered since Real doubled their lead, with the game is slowing down as the minutes pass with Real back in utter control of the tempo.
78′- Real Madrid Substitution
78′- Inter Milan Substitution
81′- Less than 10 minutes remain for Inter Milan and it seems certain that Real will finish the game as victors as Inter don’t seem capable of probing the Real backline.
86′- Sensi becomes only the second player to be booked in the game as he takes down Modric in the middle of the park, earning him a yellow card.
86′- Inter Milan Substitution
Two minutes of injury time to come
FT Inter Milan 0-2 Real Madrid
Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan know they cannot recover and are almost certainly cursed to miss out on the round of 16 in the Champions League and will have to fight Shakhtar Donetsk for the 3rd spot in the group to have a chance of redemption in the Europa League after losing the final last season. Meanwhile, Zidane will be happy to see his side has recovered from a poor start to the group and is likely to qualify for the round of 16 as they now find themselves in 2nd place behind Gladbach after what can only be described as a dominant display from Real Madrid.
