At the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milano, Inter hosted Red Bull Salzburg for an early kickoff in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage. Alexis Sanchez put the Serie A giants in the lead early on but Oscar Gloukh equalized the score in the second half. Nevertheless, Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot to secure all three points for the Nerazzurri.
Starting Lineups
Simone Inzaghi maintained his usual 3-5-2 formation while introducing some changes to the personnel following the 3-0 victory over Torino. Chilean veteran Sanchez joined club captain Lautaro Martinez upfront, while Davide Frattesi, Calhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan formed the midfield trio.
Carlos Augusto got the nod on the left flank rather than Federico Dimarco but Denzel Dumfries maintained his starting berth on the opposite flank. At the back, Stefan de vrij slotted in between Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni.
On the opposite side, Austrian tactician Gerhard Struber adopted a 4-3-1-2 line-up filled with young talents. Gloukh played as an attacking midfielder behind the Croatian striking duo of Luka Susic and Roko Simic.
Alexis Reopen Inter Account
Even though Salzburg drew first blood when Maurits Kjaergaard picked up Gloukh who tested Yann Sommer with a low drive in the fifth minute, it was Inter who took the lead through Alexis Sanchez in the 19th minute.
Mkhitaryan picked up Frattesi on a quick action. The Italian managed to maintain possession before playing a through ball that was brilliantly converted to a goal courtesy of a clinical finish from Sanchez.
The rest of the first half witnessed little action with the Austrians unable to produce dangerous chances and the Nerazzurri happy to hold on to their lead.
Fabulous Equalizer From Salzburg
After the break, Salzburg took the field hellbent on leaving a mark, and they eventually managed to find a crack in the Inter defenses. Simic sneaked behind Bastoni to receive a long ball and played a back-pass to Kjaergaard who immediately teed up Gloukh.
The latter finished off a wonderful team play with a spectacular finish, leaving Sommer with no chance despite his desperate dive.
Inter Lead Restored
Nevertheless, the deadlock was short-lived, as Frattesi displayed his shrewdness by winning a spot kick when falling inside the box following the challenge of Lucas Gourna-Douath.
As usual, Calhanoglu stepped up to the plate and converted from 12 yards, restoring the home side’s lead by sending the goalkeeper in the opposite direction.
Lautaro Martinez thought he had put his stamp on the victory by scoring the Italian giants’ third of the evening when finishing off a lovely team play. However, VAR disallowed it for the most marginal offside position you’d ever witness on Frattesi who produced the assist for a goal that just wasn’t meant to be.
Vital Victory
Regardless, Inter confidently marched towards victory with Salzburg failing to mount a late onslaught. The Nerazzurri are now on top of the group after collecting seven points from three matches.
Inzaghi’s men are surely on the right path towards the knockout stage.
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