Champions, Liverpool-Inter 0-1: goal from Lautaro Martinez

Applause and anger. Inter wins at Anfield with a super goal from Lautaro (dry in the Champions League for 490 days) but Liverpool go to the quarterfinals thanks to the 2-0 first leg. After the magic of the Bull there would have been an abundant half hour to dream, but Sanchez immediately left in ten of him deserving the second yellow when Dzeko was now ready to take his place. The Reds, long masters of the field, have hit three posts. Injuries to De Vrij and Brozovic, to be evaluated in view of Sunday night’s away match in Turin.

First half

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Klopp does not give up on Manè in the trident with Jota and Salah, Inzaghi instead keeps Dzeko on the bench and focuses on Sanchez to support Lautaro. As expected, Vidal is still there for the suspended Barella. The Nerazzurri start well, pressing high and preventing the Reds from building. As in the first leg, however, the guests fail to make themselves really dangerous in the last twenty meters, despite the high outsides and the insertions of a generous Vidal. The other analogy with respect to the match in Milan is set kicks. I expect that in the double clash it should have been a strong point of the Italian champions, but which had instead led to the two English goals. After a staid quarter of the game, Liverpool revs up the engine and becomes dangerous on two consecutive corners.

On the first Matip is alone, thanks to a slip by Batons, and with his head hits the crossbar. On the second, also remotely controlled by Alexander-Arnold, he badly hits Van Dijk and Skriniar somehow saves himself. After the crossbar on February 16, Calhanoglu tries with a poisonous free kick that forces Alisson to make a difficult intervention, thanks to the rebound of the ball. In the final half, Sanchez risks red on former teammate (in Barcelona) Thiago. Vidal imitates him a minute later for an intervention on Jones. After a promising start, the two Chileans show the usual limits of dynamism and tactical intelligence. Good for them that Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick from 30 meters comes out by a whisker.

Second half

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He resumes without De Vrij, fatigued in the left calf, with D’Ambrosio who makes Skriniar climb to the center. Sanchez immediately urges Alisson with his head, but on Calha’s free-kick he was snapped offside. Liverpool, although they seem to be playing with one less gear, in fact are also very good at raising the line, led by what is confirmed as the best defender in the world: Van Dijk. When the Reds pick up the pace, Inter swerves. At 7 ‘Thiago brushes for Jota, anticipated desperate exit by Handanovic, the ball ends up in Salah who incredibly hits the post with his beloved southpaw. Now they are playing in only one half of the pitch, but the restarting Inter would have three chances in a few minutes to fuel the miracle. First Perisic in the 13th minute clears the left and triggers Calha, whose left-handed is countered by Matip.

Then Lautaro loses the moment from the edge and D’Ambrosio kicks in the corner. At 16 ‘, however, Toro invents a fantastic external neck tracer that drives the segment of Inter fans crazy and freezes the Cop. Too bad that after a blink of an eye Sanchez takes the second yellow card for an out of time entry on Fabinho. Inzaghi – the master of preventive changes to avoid expulsions – is desperate on the sidelines. Also because Dzeko was already ready for Alexis. 20 ‘from the end Brozovic collapses, tries to grit his teeth but has to give up. Gagliardini then joins Correa and Darmian between the entrances to attempt the final assault. Lautaro and Dumfries also come out, but above all a right-footed shot from Salah does not enter, hitting the English third post. The finale is a melee that exalts Skriniar and a moving Vidal.