Inter play, Barça scores: another knockout for Chivu, but qualification is possible

A reaction was needed from Chivu’s Inter, which is going through its worst moment. Not even a victory in seven championship days, where he is in penultimate place. And six goals conceded by Barcelona, ​​which only eight days ago inflicted a real humiliation on the Italian champions in the last round of the Youth League. At the Estadi Johan Cruyff – a true architectural jewel – another defeat arrives, but with decidedly more acceptable outlines. The Nerazzurri, in fact, conceded Barberà’s goal at the start (the seventh in the tournament for the attacker), but then played evenly until Unai Hernandez doubled in the 94th minute. The good news comes from the other match of the group, with Viktoria Plzen and Bayern Munich not hurting each other (3-3 the final). Inter remain in second place in the group with 4 points like the Czechs and the Germans, the next opponents. Qualification is more than within reach.

Goal and reaction

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Barça got off to a great start, angry about the defeat against Damm (the first of the season) which cost Zaragoza the championship lead. The Blaugrana besiege the Nerazzurri goal and go on already after 8 ‘with the usual Barberà: first action inside the penalty area, with the 2004-born striker who first combines with Garrido and then beats Calligaris. It is feared another embarkation given the trend and instead from that moment on the Spaniards will no longer pull, almost always making the last play wrong. On the other hand, Inter increased the pace and on 16 ‘tried with Andersen, freed by Zefi (debut as a starter for the Irishman given the first team calls of Carboni and Curatolo), but his attempt was deflected for a corner by Astralaga. Chivu’s boys insist, constantly in the goal zone. At 34 ‘Di Maggio tries to head, who in the last seconds of the first half serves Zefi, who is face to face with the opposing goalkeeper angola too much and shoots out.

On the attack

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Inter would deserve a draw on the points, also because the Nerazzurri continue to insist on the second half as well. At 56 ‘Esposito frees himself at the near post, however missing the appointment with the ball for a handful of centimeters. Meanwhile, Guercio behind is unsurpassable, so much so that in one against a Barberà he never jumps. Having said that, however, the Spanish striker should never be given up for dead and in fact in the 66th minute he goes close to doubling with a header from a corner that Calligaris rejects. It is his last attempt at him because shortly after, exhausted, he asks Oscar Lopez to change, who revolutionizes the whole offensive trident by inserting Yamal, Guiu Paz and Dani Rodriguez. Chivu does not stand by and responds with Kamate, Iliev and Grygar, with the latter choosing well the timing of insertion in the 86th minute by sending his own shot on a corner over the crossbar. The substitutions seem to push Inter, so much so that in the 90th minute it is Kamate who touches the equalizer with a left that almost kisses the post. The Nerazzurri are all up and Barça take advantage of it: first Alba shoots a penalty in motion on an assist from Dani Rodriguez, then – in the very last minute of recovery – Unai Hernandez closes the accounts with a right-footed shot from outside the area on which Calligaris cannot nothing. But Inter must start from here, already from the next championship match against Sassuolo.