Inter Milan slip up again in their second home game in a row, failing to finish off a quick two-goal lead against Bologna. This gives city rivals Milan a chance to move past Inter this evening.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi made no changes to his starting line-up compared to Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Benfica Lisbon in the Champions League. He relied on his well-rehearsed eleven with the two ex-Munich players Pavard and Sommer as well as the former Gladbach player Thuram in the line-up.
Bologna coach Thiago Motta, on the other hand, changed his starting eleven in three positions compared to the 3-0 win against FC Empoli. Corazza and Kristiansen were replaced by de Silvestri and Lykogiannis at full-back. Aebischer replaced Moro in central midfield. Zirkzee, a former Munich player, also started in the centre of attack.
Inter with quick double strike – Bologna come back from penalty kick
Both teams came into the game at the Giuseppe Meazza without any teething problems. The first big chance, however, belonged to the visitors through Ferguson (6th), whose shot flew just past the post. What followed was a demonstration of the offensive power of the Nerazzurri, who first made it 1-0 through Acerbi (11th) after a Calhanoglu corner and shortly afterwards increased the lead to 2-0 through a remarkable long-range shot by Lautaro Martinez (13th).
The Argentine became only the third player in Inter Milan’s history to score at least ten goals after eight matchdays, joining Giuseppe Meazza (11) and Antonio Valentin Angelillo (16).
But FCB did not need long to digest Inter’s double strike: After a foul by Lautaro Martinez on Ferguson in the home side’s penalty area and a subsequent VAR check, the visitors were awarded a penalty kick, which Orsolini converted (19th). It was also the top scorer who put forward Ferguson’s attempted header just two minutes later (21). Sommer, however, scraped the ball off the line. In the aftermath, both teams took their foot off the gas and concentrated on their defensive work, taking the 2-1 lead for Inter into the dressing rooms.
Zirkzee equalise
After the break, Thiago Motta’s side came out swinging and promptly equalised through Zirkzee (52nd). On the other side, Milan became dangerous with their first offensive action worth mentioning and scored the supposed 3:2 through Alexis Sanchez (60.), who was clearly offside with the preceding cross. From then on, it was almost exclusively Inter who came close to taking the lead, first through the co-production of Calhanoglu and Acerbi (64th) and then again through Lautaro Martinez (73rd).
The Nerazzurri ran until the end of the game, but with the exception of Carlos Augusto’s shot attempt in the 84th minute, they were unable to put the visitors under any pressure and thus missed out on two important points in the battle for the top spot in the table. Inter’s chance to make amends comes at FC Torino on 21 October (6pm). Bologna face Frosinone Calcio the following day (3 p.m.).