Brave, mature, consistent: Real convinces and still beats Inter

Match reportReal Madrid brings Inter to their knees again. With a convincing performance, the Blancos win 2-0 at San Siro. Eden Hazard strikes early, Achraf Hakimi’s own goal secures the decision. Real’s situation in Champions League group B continues to relax. Coach Zinédine Zidane is the same as on Saturday at Villarreal. Inter have been outnumbered for almost an hour.

The Blancos continue to gain air in a group

MILAN. Against the lesser-known representatives Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Mönchengladbach it did not work on the first attempt, against Inter, however, Real Madrid managed to take off a second time in the current Champions League group stage as a winner. The 3-2 win at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in early November was followed by a 2-0 win at San Siro on Wednesday night.

After the miserable start of the preliminary round in the standings, the Blancos have two days of play remaining and are now second with seven points, three points from Donetsk and five from Inter last. Gladbach has eight points.

»Ranking: this is the status in group B of the Champions League

XI at the start and goals in advance: parallel to the Villarreal game

Surprisingly, manager Zinédine Zidane has made no changes to his starting XI since Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Villarreal. This means: Real played again in the 4-2-3-1 with Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos on the double six, Martin Ødegaard in the center front, Lucas Vázquez on the right wing and Mariano Díaz in the attack center. Carlos Casemiro, although returned to the squad, took the substitute’s bench.

Similar to last weekend, Los Blancos made their way into the game with a goal early. In the absence of Sergio Ramos and not yet fit Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard converted a penalty (7th) after central defender Nacho Fernández was fouled by Inters Nicolò Barella (5th).

Vázquez hits the post – Mendy too selfless

Real belonged to the initial phase at San Siro. Zidane’s team presented themselves in a strong condition, because they were very concentrated, they snatched the action with a lot of possession from themselves, they kept the hosts away from their accommodation so well. The second goal was close before the end of the first quarter of an hour, Vázquez fails with a shot from distance without interruption only on the left post (13th).

Shortly afterwards Mariano tried to turn his head on a cross but was unable to put enough pressure behind the ball (14th). Then Ferland Mendy was too unselfish after a pass from Hazard, preferring to cross again in a promising position from a few meters instead of trying to finish himself (17th).

Two yellow cards in seconds: Vidal is thrown from the field

While the Blancos continued to give a very mature, confident and active impression, the anticipations of the “Nerazzurri”, who have only collected two points to date and who were under extremely pressure after the disadvantage, have mostly vanished. After just over half an hour, they vehemently called for a penalty after a duel in Real Madrid’s penalty area between Raphaël Varane and Arturo Vidal. Inter received this, but rightly so, and instead a red card. A too emotionally charged Vidal did not stop protesting and within seconds he saw two yellow cards. Expulsion after 33 minutes!

The Madrid guests entered the rest with a well-deserved, but still too narrow advantage. Eight shots at Real, two attempts at Inter. The Merengues shot four on goal, not one of the Italians. Thibaut Courtois had little to do.

Unlike Zidane, Antonio Conte made two staff changes at the restart. Danilo D’Ambrosio and Ivan Perišić joined for Alessandro Bastoni and Lautaro Martínez. Inter moved from early 3-5-2 to 4-4-1 and have built up increasing pressure after the break, even if serious chances are not yet to emerge. Real were lucky in action in the penalty area when Vázquez’s clear hold against Roberto Gagliardini had no consequences (52nd).

Hakimi’s own goal increases the score

Zidane reacted to the opponent’s pressure phase and led the more defensive Casemiro (58th) after an hour for the good Ødegaard. Rodrygo Goes also arrived for Mariano (58th) and immediately scored 2-0. On his first contact with the ball, the young Brazilian scored at the far post from Vázquez’s cross from the right (59th). The blow was attributed to Achraf Hakimi, as he apparently gave the round skin a change of direction during the rescue attempt.

Real continue with the victory against Donetsk

The Serie A player’s offensive efforts subside after the renewed setback. Real just had to bring comfort over time. And he succeeded. If the Madrid side retaliate on Tuesday (18:55) with a win against Shakhtar, they will be able to move on to the knockout stage, regardless of how the match between Gladbach and Inter ends. Before that, the white ballet must play in the Primera División. On Saturday Deportivo Alavés arrives in Di Stéfano (9 pm, in REAL TOTAL-Liveticker and DAZN).

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