Final score

2 October 2014 21:05

Inter
40' (2nd half) Icardi
18' D'Ambrosio
2 - 0
Qarabag
Referee: Alexei Kulbakov / Linesmen: Dzmitry Zhuk, Andrei Hetsikau / Fourth official: Aleh Maslianka / Assistants: Siarhei Tsynkevich, Dzianis Shcharbakou
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
45' Half time in San Siro. Inter a goal to the good thanks to a fine finish from D'Ambrosio
43' Qarabag break with Reynaldo, he gets into the box only to flick his finish beyond the far post
26' Guarin finds Hernanes with an inch-perfect pass, the Brazilian towers above his markers but can't get enough on his header
24' Long ball into the box for Icardi, Sehic comes out to claim it
21' Chance for Inter. Hernanes' delivery comes to Ranocchia, who fires just over the bar
18' D'Ambrosio has developed something of a penchant for the Europa League: this is his third goal in the competition after Stjarnan and Dnipro
18' INTER TAKE THE LEAD! A brilliant strike by D'Ambrosio from the corner of the penalty box leaves Sehic no chance. 1-0!
13' Chance for Reynaldo to shoot from inside the box, Juan Jesus is there to block it
8' A dangerous lofted ball into the path of Reynaldo is nodded behind by Andreolli
7' Sehic is almost caught out by Icardi but manages to make the clearance
1' Welcome to the Stadio Meazza for tonight's Europa League clash with Qarabag
1' Inter make a lively start and D'Ambrosio sends in a cross for Nagatomo but the Japanese is whistled for a foul
1' Here we go: the visitors take the kick-off and Inter v Qarabag is now underway!
1' Belarusian referee Alexey Kulbakov is the man in charge tonight
1' Hernanes, Kuzmanovic and M'Vila start in midfield with Guarin in behind lone striker Icardi
1' Carrizo mans the posts tonight while Andreolli joins the returning Ranocchia and Juan Jesus in defence. D'Ambrosio and Nagatomo out wide
Minute Text commentary
51' The Nerazzurri are top of Group F on six points. There were no goals between Saint Etienne and Dnipro in tonight's other match
51' Goals by D'Ambrosio (18) and Icardi (85) give Inter a 2-0 win over Qarabag!
50' Muarem is cautioned for a nasty foul on M'Vila
45' We'll have five minutes of stoppage time
40' GOAL FOR INTER! Osvaldo plays in Icardi and the Argentine hits a superb angled finish across the keeper to make it 2-0!
35' Juan Jesus is booked
27' A wincing Hernanes is carried off on a stretcher. Joel Obi comes on
23' Gurbanov gives it one last roll of the dice and throws on Sadygov for Gurbagov
18' Guarin has picked up a knock and goes off, Osvaldo coming on in his place
17' Another switch for the Azeris: George is replaced by Taghiyev
14' Mazzarri shuffles his cards in midfield as Kuzmanovic makes way for Medel
12' Icardi wins the ball and hits a swerving long-range effort which Sehic manages to tip over
1' We're off again as the second half of Inter v Qarabag begins. No changes made during the break
Andreolli
5.54
5.54
Obi
6.45
6.45
Ranocchia
7.14
7.14
Nagatomo
4.41
4.41
Jesus
5.46
5.46
Guarin
5.26
5.26
Kuzmanovic
4.51
4.51
Carrizo
5.93
5.93
Icardi
6.91
6.91
D'Ambrosio
7.47
7.47
Hernanes
4.63
4.63
M'Vila
6.09
6.09
Osvaldo
7.15
7.15
Medel
6.33
6.33
Average rating 5.95
4 shots on target 0
3 shots off target 5
7 fouls committed 8
4 corners 5
2 offsides 0
54% ball possession 46%
No goals conceded in Europe for 294 minutes

Inter’s defence hasn’t been breached in Europe for 294 minutes. The last goal conceded was scored by Emmanuel Adebayor in the Nerazzurri’s 4-1 Europa League win over Tottenham on 14 March 2013. The last 24 minutes of that match, plus the three games played in this year’s edition of the tournament, make up the impressive record.

No wins in four for Qarabag

The Azerbaijani side are without a win in their last four European outings, racking up three draws and one loss. During that time, they’ve only managed to score one goal, in a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in their Europa League play-off on 28 August.

Belarusian Kulbakov to referee

The man in black for tonight’s match will be Kulbakov, the 35-year-old Belarusian who’s been officiating at international level since 2006. Inter v Qarabag will be the second time Kulbakov has refereed an Italian team in a European encounter, after overseeing Juventus’s 2-0 Europa League win over Trabzonspor on 20 February 2014. He has never before officiated a match involving an Azerbaijani team.

Inter unbeaten against Azerbaijanis

Inter have played two previous matches against Azerbaijani teams. In the 2012/13 edition of the Europa League, the Nerazzurri twice played Neftchi Baku, managing a win in Azerbaijan and securing a draw at the Meazza.

200 appearances in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup and Europa League

Tonight marks Inter’s 200th match across the Europa League, UEFA Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Nerazzurri have won 100 times; most recently a 1-0 victory over Dnipro in Kiev just 15 days ago. There have also been 55 draws and 44 losses, with 328 goals scored by Inter to 197 conceded. Inter are one of six teams – alongside Barcelona, Juventus, Liverpool, Sevilla and Valencia – to have won the competition three times (in 1990/91, 1993/94 and 1997/98). Inter’s debut in this level of European competition came on 15 May 1956 – a 0-0 draw at home against Birmingham City.

Unknown territory

Today’s match is the first ever meeting between Inter and Qarabag.

wins(1) draws(0) defeats(0)

starting lineups

Carrizo 30 13 Sehic
Andreolli 6 18 Gurbanov
Ranocchia 23 24 Teli
Jesus 5 55 Guseynov
D'Ambrosio 33 25 Agolli
Hernanes 88 2 Qarayev
M'Vila 90 7 Yusifov
Kuzmanovic 17 10 Muarem
Nagatomo 55 20 Richard Almeida
Guarin 13 41 George
Icardi 9 9 Reynaldo

substitutes

Handanovic 1 1 Veliyev
Osvaldo 7 6 Ahmadov
Palacio 8 14 Sadygov
Vidic 15 17 Nadirov
Medel 18 33 Aliyev
Obi 20 77 Taghiyev
Mbaye 25 99 Alaskarov