Inter Milan 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
On both of the previous occasions these two sides have locked horns in European combat, Inter have not only gone onto knock out their German counterparts but have gone onto win the tournament.
Yet that would not have been on the radar of Antonio Conte’s players inside the San Siro – a fine sight on European nights like these – as they kicked off this Champions League encounter.
The Nerazzurri were lagging behind in Group F with one point from their first two games and could ill-afford to lose more ground as they find themselves in a tough pool for the second season in a row.
Put simply, this was a must-win game for Inter.
Highlights of the game
So there was an element of relief when they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with their first effort on target.
Stefan de Vrij floated a ball over the top, Lautaro Martinez took a touch and, despite falling, managed to slide the ball past the advancing Roman Burki.
Burki was a welcome name on the team sheet for Dortmund after he had gone off injured during their weekend Bundesliga victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Boss Lucien Favre brought in just one new face from that game.
With captain and matchwinner Marco Reus – their top scorer with six in all competitions so far this season – missing with flu, it meant a return to the side for Jadon Sancho who had been left out after returning late from international duty.
The other main Champions League 2019 news was that Mats Hummels led out Dortmund in the absence of Reus, the first time he’d captained the club in 1,250 days since the 2016 German Cup final; he left for Bayern Munich that summer before returning recently.
After falling behind, Dortmund notched their first real effort on goal with a shot from Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel always rising.
They were nearly back on level terms, though, with the last kick of the half.
Sancho got down the right and from a tight angle curled the ball towards the far post, only for Samir Handanovic to fingertip it away from safety.
Into the second half and the pattern continued as Dortmund dominated possession, yet chances were few.
An Achraf Hakimi strike from the edge of the box took a deflection off De Vrij and Handanovic had to readjust for a tricky save as the outcome remained in the balance.
At the other end, Martinez saw a shot deflected narrowly wide and it became clear the next goal was key.
Few could have begrudged Dortmund an equaliser 15 minutes from time when Sancho turned the ball towards goal, but it was cleared off the line by Marcelo Brozovic with Jacob Bruun Larsen ready to pounce.
The SBOBET Champions League 2019 betting odds were firmly in Inter’s favour 10 minutes from time when lively teenage substitute Sebastiano Esposito was adjudged to have brought down Hummels, but Martinez saw his spot-kick well beaten away by the impressive Bürki.
He then denied the same player again as Inter finished strongly before they finally got the second goal to seal the points.
Brozovic kept possession before releasing Antonio Candreva away and the Italian international raced clear before blasting the ball over Bürki.
Game over and the relief inside the San Siro was palpable.
This group is up for grabs now!
Key statistics
Martínez (22 years, 62 days) is the youngest Inter player to score in successive Champions League matches since Obafemi Martins (20 years, 118 days), in February 2005 against Porto.
At 17 years and 113 days, Esposito was the youngest Inter player to make a Champions League/European Cup appearance since legendary defender Giuseppe Bergomi in 1981 (17 years and 72 days).
This was Inter Milan’s first home victory against German opponents in seven attempts (drawn one, lost five).
These were the first goals Dortmund have conceded in this season’s competition.
This was their fifth-ever meeting in European combat (they met in the 1964 European Cup and the 1994 UEFA Cup).
Ivan Perisic, who played for Dortmund between July 2011 and January 2013, is currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Inter.
What’s next?
Inter have two more games over the next seven days.
They host Parma in Serie A on Saturday (October 26) before travelling to Brescia three days later.
Dortmund are in Bundesliga action at Schalke over the weekend followed by a quick rematch at home to Monchengladbach in the second round of the German Cup a week from tonight (October 30).
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