Inter have done it! An excellent team showing in amongst a tough run of domestic form. The hosts largely kept Lewandowski quiet and the post came to their aid when the lively Dembele did fashion a decent sight of goal.
Hakan Calhanoglu struck his first Champions League goal in six years as Inter leapfrogged FC Barcelona in Group C. The Turkish international drilled a low, right-footed effort just inside Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s right-hand post in first-half added time to cap a solid showing by the Nerazzurri. Barcelona dominated possession but the hosts’ defence kept opportunities to a minimum, with the visitors’ best chance coming when Ousmane Dembele blasted against the upright on the hour.
Game.
Set.
Match.#ForzaInter #InterBarça #UCL #InterBarcellona @hakanc10 pic.twitter.com/JWFxVRV1Hw— Inter (@Inter) October 4, 2022
Inter recorded their first victory against Spanish opposition in this competition since their 3-1 semi-final first-leg success against the Blaugrana in April 2010.
Goalscorer Calhanoglu has been named the UEFA Player of the Match by the UEFA Technical Observer panel, who highlighted his vital goal and the threat that he posed to Barcelona during the game as a whole.
Inter coach: Simone Inzaghi said, “The team had a great match against very strong opponents with a lot of quality. We suffered together, we did well on the pitch. We had a great game. I am happy for my players, for the club and for the fans. It’s a great night, but we haven’t done anything yet. Even if beating Barcelona doesn’t happen that often.”
FC Barcelona coach Xavi said,”We weren’t dynamic enough for what I wanted. We turned in a good first half-hour. But we then let the dynamism leak away. We stopped Inter’s counterattacks quite well and we made some chances, but we couldn’t convert any of them.”
Bengali