Osimhen’s Napoli unlucky against Real Madrid. Thuram makes Inter fly against Benfica (photo Lapresse)
Champions League: Thuram launches Inter, 1-0 against Benfica
After the draw on their debut against Real Sociedad, Inter achieved their first victory in the new edition of the Champions League, beating Benfica at home in the second round of the group stage. At San Siro it ends 1-0 thanks to Thuram’s goal during a second half played at the limits of perfection, in which there was also a crossbar and a post hit by Lautaro, as well as many other unrealized chances. Inzaghi’s team thus rises to 4 points in Group D, reaching the Spaniards, while the Portuguese get their second knockout in a row and remain tied to zero.
The Nerazzurri’s start was more enterprising, but the Portuguese scored the first goal of the match with Aursneswho escapes the defense on a lateral foul and commits Sommer to a corner save. From the next corner flag Di Maria hits the top of the crossbar directly. In the 18th minute Inter’s response was entrusted to a bad right-footed volley from Dumfries on a cross from the left, with the Dutchman hitting it badly and wasting it from an inviting position. The match remains lively and very balanced and, only close to the interval, the hosts come back to show themselves with a long-range shot from Barella, which Trubin keeps a good watch on.
Marcus Thuram (photo Lapresse)
The start of the second half by Inzaghi’s team deserves widespread applause: the Nerazzurri attack insistently and, after creating several opportunities, also hitting the crossbar and the post with Lautaro, they find the deserved advantage in the 62nd minute with Thuram who hits in front of goal following an assist from Dumfries. A handful of moments later, Dimarco’s possible second goal was ruled out for offside. then it’s Lautaro again who has at least three other clear opportunities at his feet, all neutralized by an excellent Trubin. In the final Benfica tries but it’s to no avail, the 1-0 holds on at the final whistle.
Inzaghi, ‘the Inter of the great Champions League nights has been seen again, doctors are calm about Thuram’
“Have you seen the Inter of the great Champions League nights again? Absolutely, we had a second half of incredible intensity, the boys were very good. We prepared the match well. Balanced first half, we could have already taken the lead, then in the second half we increased the intensity. With every action it seemed we could score against a team of great champions. We deserved the victory.” Thus Inter coach Simone Inzaghi after the 1-0 success over Benfica at San Siro. “Stunning second half, we have already seen this Inter with this intensity. And to think that we returned from Salerno at 4 on Sunday, the boys were unable to do little or nothing, congratulations to the boys. Thuram? He has a sore calf, let’s hope it’s nothing. The doctors are quite calm, but you have to wait at least 24 hours.”
“Pavard? We know his qualities, when his name came out with the managers I was enthusiastic, he is an amazing player. He has fit in well, he is a world champion. The thing I liked is how he inserted himself, he found Thuram and Mkhitaryan who speak French and helped him”, added the Nerazzurri coach, who then added on today’s opponents: “They have great champions, as far as I knew the group would be very balanced. Benfica are now last, it’s clear that they won’t end up with zero points, qualification will be decided in the final matches.”
The only regret for Inzaghi was that he scored only one goal with the many opportunities created. “Absolutely, in the Champions League the goal difference in the direct match can also count. Having seen the match, there is a hint of regret. The remittances? I showed them at halftime, incredible carelessness. I would have liked to intervene on the second one, well done Mkhitaryan. We knew that by playing a lot we have to be good at recoveries. It wasn’t easy, we expected certain things, we found others. We expected Musa and Cabral, but instead we got Di Maria, Neres and Rafa Silva. The team had great ease in covering the field”, concluded Inzaghi.
Champions League: Napoli unlucky, Real Madrid passes 3-2
An unfortunate carom on Meret, after a crossbar hit by Valverde, allows Real Madrid to advance to Napoli in the second round of the Champions League group stage. At Maradona it ends 3-2 for the Spaniards at the end of a good, very balanced match, unblocked by Ostigard and overturned by Vinicius and Bellingham before the new equalizer on a penalty from Zielinski. In the final, the daring own goal by the Italian goalkeeper gave the victory happened to the former Ancelotti, who flies alone at the top of Group C on 6. Garcia’s men, who nevertheless put in a convincing performance, remain at 3 points. The first big chance of the match arrives after just six minutes in favor of the Spaniards: Bellingham pots vertically for Rodrygo, who comes face to face with Meret who is good at telling him no. The Neapolitans are not scared, they take courage as the minutes pass and in the 19th minute they hit: Kepa misses coming out of a corner from Zielinski, Natan deflects almost fortuitously hitting the crossbar, on which Ostigard pounces with a header for the 1-0 which explodes Maradona. Not even ten revolutions of the clock pass and the Blancos put everything back in balance thanks to Vinicius, good at taking advantage of Bellingham’s assist after a ball recovered from Di Lorenzo’s naivety. It didn’t end here, because in the 34th minute Real turned everything around with the usual unstoppable Bellingham, who sows panic among the Italian defense and with his right foot strikes Meret for the Spanish 2-1. Napoli risks an emotional collapse by allowing another couple of potential opportunities, but in the 39th minute it is Osimhen who has the equalizer on his head, neutralized by a reflex from Kepa.
Victor Osimhen (photo Lapresse)
In the second half, Garcia’s team tries to increase the pace again and in the 51st minute they find the episode that leads to 2-2: Nacho hits an arm in the area on an attempted cross from Osimhen, the referee first lets it go and is then called back by the VAR, thus awarding the penalty. Zielinski goes from the spot and beats Kepa also hitting the post. The inertia of the match shifts again and the Neapolitans take advantage of this to continue attacking insistently, frightening Real Madrid with shots from Kvaratskhelia and Zielinski which however are unsuccessful. Los Blancos only showed up again in the 74th minute, when Vinicius was denied by Meret and on the subsequent tap-in Bellingham sent a header. Four minutes later, Real Madrid put their noses forward again: Valverde unleashed a shot from outside that smashed the crossbar, the rebound hit Meret and the ball mockingly ended up in the net for the visitors’ 3-2. In the final moments Napoli tries everything in search of a new desperate equalizer, but all attempts are in vain until the final whistle.
Napoli, Garcia, ‘we are not satisfied, a draw would have been fairer’
“I don’t think we’re satisfied. The draw was fairer, but sometimes that’s how it is in football. We played on equal terms against this great team. It’s not a problem to have conceded the first goal as we did, the boys must be aware that making mistakes is part of the game. However, I didn’t like that at 1-1 we didn’t press and we suffered when we conceded the second goal. Then I like returning to the pitch where I found an aggressive Napoli with dribbling who equalized and could have won it. There were two episodes, the penalty for us but also the foul on Olivera, so I won’t talk about the referee. Good attitude also from those who joined.” Napoli coach Rudi Garcia said this to Sky after the defeat against Real Madrid.
“Politano’s replacement? I found him tired, he was already tired at the end of the first half. Elmas came on because Camavinga was booked. Overall there was quality and freshness on the bench and it was right to appeal to the bench”, continued the French coach who then spoke about Bellingham and his goal. “The goal is part of a moment in which we did little to protect the team As the axis of the team we had to cover the inside with the midfielders and take the game to the flanks. We lose a duel with bad luck because the ball passes between the legs of Ostigard, who played a good game. It’s the wrong team attitude. The moments of the match need to be understood a little more by our players and the leaders on the field”, concluded Garcia.
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