In the battle for Champions League wintering, Internazionale booked a very important 1-0 win over FC Barcelona on Tuesday evening. A goal from Hakan Çalhanoglu made the difference in Milan. In the same group, Bayern Munich easily settled with Viktoria Plzen earlier in the evening: 5-0.
By our sports editorsAt Internazionale, Stefan de Vrij and ex-Ajacied Andre Onana were in the starting lineup, while Denzel Dumfries started on the bench. FC Barcelona had to do without the injured Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong.
Robert Lewandowski, so often accurate for the Catalans in recent weeks, was of course at the kick-off. But the 34-year-old Pole was rarely brought into position in the first half. FC Barcelona had most of the ball, but Xavi’s team did not create many opportunities. Internazionale first looked the cat out of the tree and then grew into the match.
For a moment, Joaquín Correa thought to give his team a 1-0 lead, but the attacker turned out to be offside. The 2010 winner thought he would get a penalty just before that, but Eric García’s hands were lifted by Lautaro Martínez’s offside. Just before the interruption, the 1-0 fell. Çalhanoglu scored with a placed shot from outside the box.
In the second half, Internazionale logically placed the emphasis on the defense. FC Barcelona secured the home team and also got the necessary opportunities at the 1-1. Yet it remained at 1-0, also because a goal by Pedri was rejected due to hands by Ansu Fati.
Dumfries came on fifteen minutes before time for the home team. In the final phase, the Orange international was still involved in an incident that may often be mentioned in the aftermath: he got the ball against his hand, but the arbitration decided not to award a penalty.
Bayern Munich has a very simple evening
At the beginning of the evening, Bayern Munich had clearly shown themselves superior to Viktoria Plzen. With Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui in the base, the German champion dealt with the defenseless visitors: 5-0.
Bayern showed themselves superior to the Czech club, who soon lost a game. Already after seven minutes, Leroy Sané opened the score with a beautiful goal. The attacker shook off a few opponents and then lashed out successfully.
The poorly defending Viktoria Plzen conceded the second goal within fifteen minutes, this time at the hands of Serge Gnabry. The German international finished after a nice attack.
The visitors were played out of control and after 21 minutes it was already 3-0: this time Sadio Mané was the celebrated man after he had happily received the ball. For a moment it seemed to get even worse for the champion of the Czech Republic, but Jamal Musiala’s goal resulted in a line being drawn due to offside.
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The Dutch make a stable impression
After the resumption, Bayern initially did not step back. Via hits from Sané and substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, ‘Der Rekordmeister’ ran out to 5-0 before the hour. Just like for rest, Viktoria Plzen gave away a lot of space.
The Czechs were lucky that Bayern believed it after Choupo-Moting’s goal. So there was no monster score. De Ligt, Mazraoui and Gravenberch, who all made a stable impression but were not really tested, completed the entire game.
Bayern are clear after three rounds of play. After the defeat at Internazionale, FC Barcelona threatens to fall to the curtain in the first round, just like last season. Although the gap with the Italian top club – three points – is not yet insurmountable. With zero points, Viktoria Plzen carries the red lantern.
Stand in groep C Champions League
- 1. Bayern München 3-9 (+9)
- 2. Internazionale 3-6 (+1)
- 3. FC Barcelona 3-3 (+1)
- 4. Viktoria Plzen 3-0 (-11)
View the program, the results and the standings in the Champions League
