Real Sociedad is not satisfied with leaving its mark on the Spanish League and exports its model successfully in Europe. With a great team package, Imanol Alguacil’s team needed a point to secure first place in their group and left Giuseppe Meazza with it. No less than against the current leader of the Italian League. He did it by bothering little in attack but ruling the game by monopolizing the ball and minimizing the danger of the Italians. In Real’s last participation in the Champions League, ten years ago, the San Sebastian team did not win a single game in the group stage. This time they have not been losing in any of the six games. The Real impresses.
Those from Alguacil or in Milan showed up without complexes, taking possession of the ball from the beginning and dominating an Inter that was somewhat lethargic in its staging. The departure of the Basques, however, was not accompanied by verticality. His players passed the ball in areas that were not very threatening to the rival, who, given what was seen, began to launch Italian-style counterattacks, waiting for the robbery to go on the counterattack, in the case of Inzagui’s team with the accumulation of many men. Marcus Thuram usually started with a powerful stride and did not always get the final pass right. Although they had little of the ball, Inter had two good chances before the break. Former Barcelona player Alexis Sánchez finished off a shot that Zubeldia was able to clear in time and, just before half-time, full-back Dimarco launched a good shot that Remiro was able to block.
The resumption accentuated the feeling of improvement among the locals, who finally recognized the Giuseppe Meazza as their stadium. Imanol intervened with half an hour left and introduced Turrientes on the field in exchange for a static and unparticipatory Sadiq. The message was clear, look at the scoreboard and monopolize more of the ball to let the minutes pass. Kubo, probably the least speculative footballer on his team, rebelled with two actions in which he caused two consecutive chances from Zakharyan and Oyarzabal. Later, he ruined a play worthy of Messi by fooling the referee inside the area. A penalty was awarded that was amended by the VAR. The Japanese was carded for simulating.
Inzaghi turned to Lautaro in search of the goal but Real, with a draw, ended up avoiding it.
0 – Inter: Summer; Darmian, Acerbi, Charles August; Cuadrado, Frattesi, Calhanoglu (Asllani, m.82), Mkhitaryan (Barella, m.65), Dimarco (Bastoni, m.77); Thuram (Arnautovic, m.65), Alexis Sanchez (Lautaro, m.65).
0 – Real Sociedad: Remiro; Traoré, Zubeldia (Elustondo, m.77), Le Normand, Aihen Muñoz (Tierney, m.87); Zubimendi, Zakharyan (Magunazelaia Argoitia, m.77), Merino, Oyarzábal; Kubo (Carlos Fernández, m.87) and Sadiq (Turrientes, m.61).
Referee: Sandro Scharer (SUI). Lautaro was cautioned (m.75) by Inter; and Zubeldia (m.21), Zakharyan (m.45), Kubo (m.76) and Elustondo (m.85, will miss the next match), from Real Sociedad.
Incidents: match corresponding to the sixth day of the group stage of the Champions League played at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro) in Milan.
