The match: 1-0
Inter Milan had to wait, for a long time, against an Atlético de Madrid regrouped as they have the secret. Italian supporters also had to scream, in the stadium or their living room, at Marko Arnautovic’s failures. But all were released in the 79th minute, when the scorer burst after a face-to-face lost by Lautaro Martinez (1-0). This goal allows the Lombards to consider the return leg, in three weeks, with an advantage, short certainly, but amply deserved in view of this Tuesday’s match.
However, they took a long time to wrap up the match, put to sleep by the rigid and compact block of the Colchoneros. We had to wait until the end of the first period to see Jan Oblak enter the scene on a header from Lautaro Martinez (37th). The same Martinez who crushed his shot a few minutes later after a tumble from Marcus Thuram (39th).
The Frenchman, relatively discreet, only attempted two strikes, the second of which caused him to leave his team (46th). Affected in the adductor muscles, the international (16 caps) did not return after the break, replaced by Marko Arnautovic. From his first ball, the Austrian almost scored but missed his recovery (49th). This first opportunity was by far the most difficult of the ones he missed. Because in the process, he sent a strike into the stands while he was alone within six meters (63rd) then was too short to conclude a cross from Pavard (73rd).
9
Inter Milan scored a ninth victory in a row this Tuesday in all competitions. The Lombards have still not lost in 2024.
It was only in the last quarter of an hour that the striker on loan from Bologna finally finished. He followed the duel lost by Martinez against Oblak well to score in the empty goal and celebrate with the kop (1-0, 79th). A well-deserved opening score for his team, dominating from start to finish, against the sad Colchoneros. Having come to seek a draw, Diego Simeone’s men can however rejoice in still being alive and keep every chance for the return in three weeks, at the Civitas Metropolitano.
The fact: Arnautovic resilient hero
He shouldn’t have played as much but Marko Arnautovic knew how to seize his chance. Entering at the break to compensate for Marcus Thuram’s injury, the Austrian long believed that he was cursed. But despite his lack of success in front of goal and in the game, he did not give up, as evidenced by his goal. After a long run of 50 meters, he was the quickest and most responsive to recover Martinez’s miss and reward his needy half-time, where he ran a lot without being rewarded.