UCL: Borussia Dortmund complete the comeback, Inter beaten 3 - 2

DORTMUND - A defeat for Inter on matchday four. And it’s a particularly painful defeat too, with the Nerazzurri having been two up at the break following goals from Lautaro and Vecino. However, these goals weren’t enough: the hosts piled on the pressure and Inter weren’t able to react. It finished 3-2 in the end, with Hakimi (2) and Brandt completing the turnaround.

If you looked at the ball possession statistics at half-time, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it had been a story of Borussia Dortmund dominance up to that point. However, the first half very much belonged to Antonio Conte’s men, who showed tactical discipline, a great competitive spirit and devastating ruthlessness on the counter. The Nerazzurri took the lead after just five minutes, and it was all the work of Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine striker received Godin’s long ball, skipped past two Dortmund players and, when everyone thought he was going to square it for Lukaku in the middle of the box, fired it home. Absolutely brilliant.

And it was a goal that really got the match going, with Dortmund looking threatening down the right flank through the menacing and highly productive Hakimi. Good play down the right wing is how the hosts’ first real chance came about, with Handanovic doing superbly well to deny Goetze. However, Inter knew what to do: contain the Germans and hit back with intelligent attacking moves themselves. In the 22nd minute, both Lautaro and Brozovic both came close to doubling the Nerazzurri’s lead. Borussia then switched their widemen to shake things up and give their play a new lease of life, but it was Inter who remained the more dangerous side. And in the 40th minute, Conte’s men scored a second. It was a brilliant team move too. Marcelo Brozovic started it with quick footwork and a ball to Lautaro, who then spread play out to Candreva. The latter then rolled the ball across to Vecino, who swept the ball home as he ran into the box. 2-0 to Inter. It was a goal that reawakened Dortmund, with Handanovic thwarting both Sancho and Hazard as the half was coming to a close.

The second half however was much different to the first as the side in black and yellow flew out of the blocks. The hosts executed their game plan to perfection, and with their relentless press it didn´t take long before they had pulled one back. After just five minutes of the second half, Hakimi, the best player on the pitch by a distance, diverted Götze’s ball into the middle past Handanovic and into the Nerazzurri net to open the game back up. It was here that the Nerazzurri's difficulties began. Favre´s side upped the intensity with Hazard, Sancho and Brandt all threatening to score the equaliser. It was the final one of this trio who found it in the 64th minute. A bizarre goal which all stemmed from an Inter throw-in deep inside our own half: Brandt nicked it off the defence and drove into the box to make it 2-2. Despite changes from Conte, the Nerazzurri failed to react, especially in light of Politano’s injury almost immediately after coming on. The victim of a rash challenge from Schulz, our number 16 was effectively out of action and Inter were practically down to ten men. Dortmund didn’t hesitate to take advantage of this, and it was Hakimi again who found their third in the 77th minute. The Moroccan played a one-two on the edge of the area and was set free in front of Handanovic, firing it past our goalkeeper for the winner. This was his fourth goal in the Champions League, a record for a defender. Inter failed to recover from this late blow and only really came close to levelling the scores once through Sensi in the 90th minute.

Although it was a perfect first half, the disappointment of the second will be hard to forget. Now the standings in Group F read as follows: Barcelona 8, Borussia Dortmund 7, Inter 4 and Slavia Prague 2. An evening full of regret which we’ll have to put behind us as soon as possible. On Saturday, the Nerazzurri are back out on the pitch at San Siro against Hellas Verona. We’ll need all of your support to pick ourselves back up. #ForzaInter forever!

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-2 INTER

BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): 1 Bürki; 5 Hakimi, 16 Akanji, 15 Hummels, 14 Schulz; 28 Witsel, 33 Weigl; 7 Sanchob (26 Piszczek 82'), 19 Brandt, 23 Hazard (13 Guerreiro 88'); 10 Götze (9 Alcacer 64').Substitutes: 40 Oelschlagel, 2 Zagadou, 6 Delaney, 8 Dahoud.Coach: Lucien Favre.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 2 Godin, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar; 87 Candreva, 8 Vecino (12 Sensi 68'), 77 Brozovic, 23 Barella, 34 Biraghi (19 Lazaro 66'); 10 Lautaro Martinez, 9 Lukaku (16 Politano 73').Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 20 Borja Valero, 30 Esposito, 95 Bastoni.Coach: Antonio Conte.

Scorers: 5' Lautaro (I), 40' Vecino (I), 51' Hakimi (B), 64' Brandt (B), 77' Hakimi (B)Bookings: Biraghi (I), Skriniar (I), Candreva (I), Hazard (B)Added time: 1' - 4'

Referee: Danny MakkelieAssistants: Mario Diks, Hessel Steegstra.Fourth Official: Kevin Blom.VAR and Assistant VAR: Jochem Kamphuis, Bas Nijhuis.