The two teams go into this game, still waiting to kickstart their Champions League campaign as neither of them has performed as they’d hoped at this point of the group stage. Real Madrid have seemed to only perform in the later minutes as they nearly clawed back a point after going 3-0 down to Shakhtar Donetsk and losing 3-2 due to a late VAR call which stopped the draw, while they also scored 2 goals in the final ten minutes to draw 2-2- against Borussia Monchengladbach. Meanwhile Inter have drawn both games as, similarly, they relied on a late goal to draw 2-2 with Gladbach while they endured a 0-0 stalemate against Shakhtar, leaving both sides winless two games in. This, quite simply, is a must-win for both sides.
Lineups
The other game in the group is over and Shakhtar have just lost 6-0 at home to Gladbach, preventing Shakhtar from leaving too big a gap for Real or Inter to chase. This only emphasises how a draw really isn’t enough tonight, as a win for either side would put them neck-and-neck with the other two sides.
KICK OFF
3′- Both teams have had periods of possession with Inter looking to go forward with more intent than Real so far. It’s still early though.
4′- Its the first chance of the game and its fallen to Real as the ball is pulled back by Hazard to Asensio who goes for goal but it rises towards the middle of the goal where Handanovic is capable of Acrobatically tipping the ball over the bar.
7′- Real have been relentless since that chance with Valverde winning the ball high into Inter’s half of the pitch, and not for the first time, before he launches the ball, from distance, just over the bar. Inter need to slow the game down soon or they’ll surely find themselves behind.
10′- Inter get a counter attack through Hakimi who crosses to the far post and finds Perisic who waits for someone to be open for a pass in the box, before he crosses to Martinez who manages to head the ball over Courtois who misses the ball and is lucky it falls onto the bar and out. This game is extremely open, one of the sides just need to take control.
14′- Arturo Vidal strikes the ball from long range with a first-time shot from roughly 25 yards out but the ball ripples the left-hand of the side-netting with the ex-Barcelona man left amazed he hasn’t given his side the lead. That would have made his former employers happy.
17′- Inter are passing the ball with confidence in their own box while Real press them, before the giants from Italy break the press and begin their own attack. Impressive from the men in blue and black.
21′- Asensio puts a teasing cross in which gets deflected and Handanovic surprises his own defence with a late decision to catch the ball. That could have been problematic.
23′- The First clear chance of the game goes begging as nice interplay between Vasquez and Benzema leaves Valverde completely free in the box but he volleys the ball into the ground and it bounces over.
25′- GOAL-KARIM BENZEMA
Embed from Getty ImagesReal take the lead as Handanovic fails to rid Benzema of the ball after a poor pass-back from Hakimi against his old club, with the Frenchman managing to stay on his feet and calmly passing the ball into an empty net. Inter will be disappointed with conceding a goal of that manner in a game as important as this.
29′- The game remains the same with the ball being played quickly by either side as possession is being lost by both sides every twenty seconds or so. Real may have the lead, but the three points are by no means theirs.
33′- Hazard drives at the Inter back-line and tricks his way through but takes too heavy a touch and is unable to finish past Handanovic but he manages to win a corner. Impressive footwork there from the former Chelsea man.
33′- GOAL – SERGIO RAMOS
Embed from Getty ImagesReal have a firm lead now as they find themselves two goals in front with Hazard taking the subsequent corner and finding the Spanish veteran who glances the ball with his head into the far post. That’s his 100th goal for Real Madrid. What an impressive record for a defender.
35′- GOAL – LAUTARO MARTINEZ
Embed from Getty ImagesThis game doesn’t seem to slow down now as Inter go forward and a sublime backheel from Barella clips the ball to Martinez who immediately strokes the ball past Courtois and into the bottom corner. What a game we have now.
41′- Real have a free kick in a good position as Kroos delivers the ball towards the back post where Benzema is looming but he climbs D’Ambrosio and is adjudged to have fouled the Italian.
44′- Vidal receives the first yellow card in the game and that isn’t a shock to anyone watching the game as he’s been lucky to not be booked so far. He follows through and is lucky his studs weren’t showing or that could’ve been curtains for the midfield general.
HT REAL MADRID 2-1 INTER MILAN
Time to take a breath now as an eventful half comes to an end with Real ending the half in the lead but certainly not in the ascendancy as Inter have shown that they aren’t ready to throw this game away. If the second half is anything like the first, we’ll be in for a truly entertaining half.
SECOND HALF
47′- Mendy recieves a yellow card after stamping on Hakimi down the right wing for Inter. This is a chance to put real pressure
48′- The following free kick fails to be cleared and its a goal-mouth scramble as Inter players seem to get into each other’s way while every Madrid body is in the way of Inter’s shots before the ball is cleared and is discovered to have been popped.
51′- Another yellow card is given, as Brozovic clips the ankle of Eden Hazard and is rightfully booked. There was no need to make that challenge as his side find themselves under unnecessary pressure from a free kick.
54′- Inter win a free kick from an accidental hand ball by Casemiro and fail to pressure the Madrid defence as Courtois rises high and manages to collect the ball despite the best efforts of Lautaro Martinez to reach it first.
60′- Inter bring the ball forward from defence again as Hakimi drives down the wing and tries a one-two but the ball from Barella gets to Courtois first who was quick off his line to stop his ex-teammate.
62′- Inter may not be level on goals but they’re level on bookings as Valverde fouls his man needlessly on the halfway line. The game is getting slower by the minute. Inter need to find a goal soon.
64′- Martinez nearly gets in front of Ramos after a quick cross from Perisic but Ramos manages to get the ball out for a corner. Perisic gets the ball short from the corner and puts an inviting cross to the back post which Mendy only sees late as he it hits him in the chest and luckily falls to no Inter players before Varane clears.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR REAL MADRID
65′- Ashley Young takes no time at all to invite Vinicius Jr to the game as he takes him down on the touchline. The Brazilian looks a bit hurt by the challenge as he gets up with a bit of a limp.
68′- GOAL – IVAN PERISIC
Embed from Getty ImagesGreat play from Inter but sloppy from Real as Lautaro has the chance to head the ball down to his strike partner in the box and Perisic waits for the ball to fall onto his left boot before he forces the ball across goal and into the bottom right corner.
72′- Barella gets Inter in the lead on yellow cards after he is somehow adjudged to have been fouled Hazard while it seems as if he was the victim in that situation. Questionable refereeing there.
75′- Nearly for Inter Milan there as Martinez seems to have all the time in the world to take a shot at Courtois as he curls it past the Belgian international but his shot graves the outside of the post and goes out. He certainly isn’t playing like a man on poor form anymore.
76′- Another attack from Inter Milan falls to Perisic on his left foot again, but this time he fires wide. Inter are all over Real at the moment, they just need that finishing touch.
80′- GOAL – RODRYGO
Embed from Getty ImagesAll of a sudden Real have their first proper attack for what seems like forever and Benzema gets the ball across to the teenage Brazilian who is the coolest man in the place as he smashes the ball past Handanovic who was left rooted on the spot. Is that the winner for Real?
83′- How has Benzema missed here. A beautiful move from Real leads to Vasquez whipping the ball to Benzema at the back post from 6 yards out but he fails to control the ball, as it bounces up and strikes his elbow and he is penalised for a hand ball. That would’ve wrapped up the three points for Los Blancos.
85′- Casemiro becomes the sixth player to be booked as he gives away what could be a costly free kick in a good position as every outfield Inter man has gone straight into the box, looking to save their side’s Champions League campaign.
86′- Alexis Sanchez lazily strikes it straight into the wall and Inter waste the second ball. You can only think if he was still wearing an Arsenal shirt something may have happened there.
90+1′- 3 MINUTES ADDED ON
Real don’t have long to hold on but Inter Milan are still a threat.
90+3 – Handanovic wonderfully saves with his feet from close range after a low drive by Karim Benzema. Real have a corner and Inter have run out of injury time, all that awaits is the full-time whistle.
FT REAL MADRID 3-2 INTER MILAN
So ends a fantastic Champions league night in Madrid, which saw five goals as Real Madrid walk away as the victors, while Inter Milan leave knowing that could be the game that prevents them from getting into the round of 16 as they find themselves at the bottom of the group, but only 3 points behind 1st with 3 games to go. Real will deem themselves lucky as Inter got close to taking the lead on a couple occasions after finding the equaliser but once Real took back the lead they looked sure that they wouldn’t let Inter back into the game. Overall a massive night for Real Madrid but a damning one for Inter Milan.
