Inter lost to Liverpool 0:1 at "San Siro" in the most interesting match of the sixth round of the main phase of the Champions League, sportal.bg reported.
Dominik Soboslay opened the scoring from a penalty in the 88th minute, and the goal turned out to be the only one in the match.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan returned to Inter's starting line-up for the first time since October. Manuel Akanji was sick with the flu, but recovered and also starts. Luis Enrique also halved his place among the 11 after his strong performance against Como.
Arne Slott made four changes to his squad compared to the match with Leeds. Andrew Robertson and Joe Gomez returned to the defensive line, replacing Milos Kerquez and Connor Bradley. Alexis McAllister started in midfield in place of Florian Wirtz, who was on the bench for the start. Alexander Isak also started alongside Hugo Ekitike in a 4-4-2 formation. Cody Gakpo was injured and Federico Chiesa was ill.
The game started fairly evenly, with both teams trying not to take risks. Already in the 11th minute, Christian Chivu had to be substituted after Hakan Calhaoglu suffered a groin injury and was replaced by Zielinski.
In the 17th minute, Liverpool organized a good attack, Curtis Jones made a raid around the penalty area, then shot on the ground on the diagonal, but Sommer cleared. Then the visitors won the ball again and Gravenberch fired a second shot from about 25 meters, but Sommer again reacted safely on his goal.
Inter organized their first good attack in the 26th minute, when Lautaro very well found Thuram in the penalty area, who tried to return it to him, but Van Dijk intervened well and cleared it with a twine.
Three minutes later, Ekitike got out from the right, advanced and shot strongly, but from a very small angle. Sommer cleared it for the third time since the start of the match. Immediately afterwards, Chivu had to make a second forced substitution, after Acerbi also got a stretch and was replaced by Bisek.
In the 32nd minute, Konate sent the ball into Sommer's goal. This happened after a cross from a corner, which Van Dijk and Ekitike tried to block with their heads. The Dutchman played the ball first, then it ricocheted off the Frenchman's hand and ended up in Konate's path. After a long review by VAR and after the referee was called to the monitor, it was decided to disallow the goal, although there was no intention in Ekitike's actions, nor could he have avoided the contact.
Shortly afterwards, the hosts had some claims for a penalty after the ball made contact with Van Dijk's hand, but it was parallel to the body and a penalty kick could not be awarded.
Inter played better in those minutes. In the 40th minute, Barella executed a very good direct free kick, after which the ball went inches wide.
Deep into the added time of the first half, Inter also created their best chance to date. Lautaro Martinez headed in a very good cross from Bastoni, but Alisson reacted brilliantly and saved.
Liverpool started the second half aggressively, with the visitors pressing very actively. In the 47th minute, Isaac intercepted a poor pass from Zomar and immediately looked for a shot to the far corner, but it was not accurate.
In the 58th minute, Gravenberch got free and found Isaac in the penalty area. The Swede took the ball out to the side to Robertson, who crossed sharply, but just before McAllister could intercept from close range, Bastoni deflected the ball.
Inter tried to organize quick counterattacks twice, but in the first case, Mkhitaryan made a mistake with the cross, and then a shot from Martinez met Van Dijk's body. Overall, Liverpool played quite solidly in defense and did not allow any chances.
In the 68th minute, Slot replaced Gomez and Isaac with Bradley and Wirtz.
Liverpool continued to have more possession and play mostly in the Nerazzurri's half, but the visitors did not get any clear chances.
In the 81st minute, the Merseysiders finally got such an opportunity, after a double pass between Bradley and Ekitike brought the right-back face to face with Sommer, but the keeper knocked his shot into the near corner.
In the 85th minute, the visitors asked for a penalty after Bastoni visibly pulled the shirt of Wirtz, who was close to the ball. The German took advantage of the situation and fell to the grass. VAR reviewed the situation and called the referee to the monitor again. After seeing the defender's actions, Felix Zweier pointed to the white spot. Dominik Sobolsai coolly took the penalty kick, giving the English champion the lead.