Icon: enlarge
Thuram in a header duel with D'Ambrosio (right) and Vidal (left)
Photo:
Luca Bruno / AP
Borussia Mönchengladbach won 2-2 (0-0) at Inter Milan at the start of the Champions League.
In a very physical game, the Gladbachers were busy with defensive work for long stretches of the game, until the deficit by Romelu Lukaku (49th minute), the Gladbachers had never shot in the direction of the opposing goal.
After that, however, it got spectacular: Ramy Bensebaini equalized from the penalty spot (63rd), Hofmann took the lead (85th).
Lukaku equalized again in the 90th minute.
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez are one of the best strikers in Europe, scoring seven goals in four games in Serie A.
Against Gladbach, Inter coach Antonio Conte initially waived Martínez and let Alexis Sánchez start.
As a result, a large part of Inter's game was based on Lukaku, who was regularly hit with high balls from defense.
It was rarely really dangerous in the first half.
Lukaku had only one ball contact in the opponent's penalty area, his shot from a tight angle just missed the far post (41.).
Martínez comes after half time
At halftime, Conte reacted to his team's lack of goal danger.
And it took less than four minutes in the second half for the lead: Arturo Vidal played a diagonal ball into the penalty area, which Martínez headed next to the goal, but not out.
Daniele D'Ambrosio brought the ball back into play via Matteo Darmian, Lukaku dusted off the six-yard box (49th).
Gladbach hardly managed to relieve the pressure, until the 57th minute, Borussia did not launch a shot in the direction of the opposing goal.
Alassane Pléa's first attempt from around 20 meters was blocked.
The second Gladbach shot on goal was from a more promising position: Vidal had brought Marcus Thuram down on the left edge of the box;
Referee Danny Makkelie decided on the penalty kick based on the video images.
Bensebaini sank massive in the right corner (63.).
Not a matter of course, Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had saved three of four penalties this year.
Then an open game developed: Martínez failed at the post (82nd), after a great pass from Florian Neuhaus Hofmann hit the goalkeeper's legs before Handanovic (63rd).
Sommer then parried a Darmian header (89th), but Lukaku took the ball over the line at the following corner (90th).
Icon: The mirror
hba