Inter beat Viktoria to qualify for the Champions League knockouts!
Team
— Oct 26th 2022A 4-0 victory for the Nerazzurri at San Siro thanks to goals from Mkhitaryan, Dzeko (a brace) and Lukaku
INTER 4-0 VIKTORIA PLZEN
Goalscorers: 35' Mkhitaryan (I), 42' Dzeko (I), 87' Lukaku (I)
INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 37 Skriniar, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 2 Dumfries, 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu (14 Asllani 71'), 22 Mkhitaryan (5 Gagliardini 83'), 32 Dimarco (8 Gosens 77'); 9 Dzeko (11 Correa 71'), 10 Lautaro (90 Lukaku 83'). Substitutes: 1 Handanovic, 21 Cordaz, 6 De Vrij, 12 Bellanova, 33 D'Ambrosio, 36 Darmian. Allenatore: Massimiliano Farris. VIKTORIA PLZEN (3-4-2-1): 36 Stanek; 2 Hejda, 3 Tijani (21 Jemelka 52'), 4 Pernica; 24 Havel, 20 Bucha, 23 Kalvach (99 Ndiaye 70'), 18 Mosquera; 77 Jirka (44 Holik 46'), 88 Vlkanova (6 Pilar 84'); 90 Bassey (15 Chory 46'). Substitutes: 13 Trvdon, 16 Jedlicka, 25 Cermak. Allenatore: Michal Bílek.
Booked: Pernica (VP) Added time: 1' - 3'
Referee: Ekberg (SVE) Assistants: Culum, Nyberg (SVE). Fourth official: Klitte (SVE). VAR: Dankert (GER). VAR assistant: Dingert (GER).
Together as one. We are Inter and this is what we are. Players, fans, everyone. The warm embrace of the San Siro crowd after the full-time whistle, and the way the supporters fired the team up before kick-off. The deafening noise throughout the 90 minutes. When the chant "olè olè olè olè, Inter" is heard, it means that things are going well, that Inter are winning, that Champions League nights are also tinged in Nerazzurro.
It was the most challenging group and Inter have qualified for the round of 16 with a game to spare. And they've done so deservedly, providing plenty of entertainment in the process. Tonight's 4-0 victory over Viktoria sealed the Nerazzurri's spot in the knockouts. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Edin Dzeko (x2) scored the team's first three goals and then Romelu Lukaku, back from injury, added the cherry on top. Indeed, a wonderful evening finished with Big Rom's return to the pitch after two months out, and it was quite the reception he received.
This is what Inter are all about: able to respond to their defeat to Bayern Munich on the opening Champions League matchday and become an almost perfect machine. Two victories over Viktoria and two brilliant performances against Barcelona. A ten-point haul that has sent the Nerazzurri into the knockouts before they play their return fixture against the German side in Munich next Tuesday. Inter went at full pelt, even if it did take a few minutes for them to warm up. The stakes were high and a few mistakes were made, but, in the end, the Nerazzurri had 22 shots compared to Viktoria's five. Inzaghi's men started to put their foot on the accelerator and, after Stanek had denied Dimarco and Mkhitaryan in quick succession (25'), took the lead in the 35th minute. Alessandro Bastoni created it, playing in a perfect cross for Mkhitaryan, who headed home for his second goal in two matches. San Siro erupted.
It was the breakthrough that everyone wanted, and Viktoria had no response. With 42 minutes on the clock, Dzeko doubled Inter's advantage following a flowing team move: Barella spread the ball out for Dimarco, who picked out the Bosnian for the easiest of finishes in the six-yard box. 2-0.
The visitors tried to get forward at the start of the second half, but the Nerazzurri quickly pushed back. Mkhitaryan hit the post with a great right-footed effort, while Lautaro was denied by Stanek following a lovely volleyed lay-off from the impressive Dimarco. Another goal was coming, however, and it arrived in the 66th minute as Dzeko stroked the ball into the net following great work from Lautaro.
At this point, the match was over as a contest, with Inter controlling proceedings and Onana not once called into action. Farris, stepping in for the suspended Inzaghi on the bench, sent on Correa, Asllani, Gosens and, finally, Lukaku and Gagliardini, both of whom had previously been sidelined due to injury.
Spurred on by the San Siro crowd, Lukaku immediately got involved, taking plenty of touches. And then came the cherry on top: the Belgian played a give-and-go with Correa before firing home with his left foot. It sealed a 4-0 win that had everything from the Nerazzurri's perspective: the determination of the whole group, the joy of playing and the delight of qualifying for the last 16.
GROUP C
STANDINGS Bayern Munich 12 Inter 10* Barcelona 4 Viktoria Plzen 0*
* one more game played
MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday 26 October Inter 4-0 Viktoria Plzen Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich, 21:00 CEST MATCHDAY 6 Tuesday 1 November Bayern Munich vs. Inter, 21:00 CET Viktoria Plzen vs. Barcelona, 21:00 CET
LIVE UPDATES
FULL-TIME: INTER 4-0 VIKTORIA PLZEN
87' GOAAAAAAL! Off the bench and on the scoresheet: Lukaku makes it four following a give-and-go with Correa!
82' Dumfries lets fly with his right foot, Stanek turns it behind for a corner!
66' GOOOAAAALLLLLL! Dzeko makes it three, stroking home Lautaro's assist!
57' Stanek makes a smart save to keep out Lautaro's effort following a lovely volleyed lay-off from Dimarco!
55' Mkhitaryan hits the post with a strike from distance!
46' The second half kicks off!
LIVE UPDATES
HALF-TIME: INTER 2-0 VIKTORIA PLZEN
42' GOALLLLL! Barella spreads it for Dimarco, who picks out Dzeko for an easy finish. 2-0!
35' GOOAAAALLLLLLL! Mkhitaryan heads home Bastoni's cross and Inter lead!
33' Dzeko gets on the end of Dimarco's low cross but can't convert at the near post.
25' Stanek makes an instinctive stop to deny Dimarco. Seconds later, the goalkeeper keeps out Mkhitaryan's header!
22' Acerbi has a go from distance but it flies over.
7' Barella plays a through ball for Dumfries, but it's slightly overhit and the Dutchman can only hit the side-netting.
1' Away we go at San Siro!