Inter Milan Secures Dominant 4-0 Win Over Red Star
Inter Milan earned their first victory of the Champions League season with a convincing 4-0 win against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. The match, held at the San Siro, saw Inter demonstrate their strength both offensively and defensively, securing an important win in the group stage.
Calhanoglu’s Stunning Free-Kick Sets the Tone
Inter Milan took the lead early in the 11th minute with a superb free-kick from Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder delivered a perfectly placed shot that sailed into the net, giving Inter a well-deserved lead. Under heavy rain, Calhanoglu’s strike energized the crowd and set the stage for a dominant performance.
The goal marked Calhanoglu’s first of the season and showcased his ability to convert from set-pieces, a key weapon in Inter’s attacking arsenal.
Arnautovic Doubles the Lead
As the match progressed, Inter continued to control the game. Red Star Belgrade struggled to contain Inter’s attacking threat, and their defense began to show signs of vulnerability. In the 60th minute, Marko Arnautovic doubled Inter’s lead, rolling in his first goal of the campaign after Mehdi Taremi intercepted a pass from Red Star’s Rade Krunic.
Arnautovic’s goal reflected Inter’s dominance in possession, and the Serbian club was unable to respond effectively. Inter’s pressure on Red Star’s backline paid off, as they found themselves two goals ahead with 30 minutes remaining.
Lautaro Martinez Adds a Third
Captain Lautaro Martinez, one of Inter’s most reliable players, extended the lead to 3-0 in the 71st minute. Martinez slotted the ball home following a well-timed pass from Taremi, who was instrumental in Inter’s attacking play. Martinez’s goal was his third of the season and further solidified his reputation as one of Inter’s key performers.
Shortly after his goal, Martinez unselfishly handed Taremi the opportunity to score his first goal for Inter. Martinez won a penalty but allowed his new Iranian teammate to take the spot-kick, displaying great team spirit.
Taremi Scores His First Goal for Inter
Taremi calmly converted the penalty, scoring his first goal for Inter Milan in the 78th minute. His composed finish against Red Star’s goalkeeper Omri Glazer added to the comfortable victory and demonstrated his potential as a valuable addition to the team.
After the match, Taremi expressed his gratitude to his teammates, especially Martinez, for giving him the chance to score. “I’m really happy to score tonight,” Taremi told Sky Sports. “Thanks to my teammates for their support. We are aiming to go far in this competition, and I believe we can.”
Red Star’s Defensive Struggles
Red Star Belgrade failed to keep pace with Inter Milan throughout the match. Their defense was repeatedly exposed, and the team looked disorganized under pressure. Coach Vladan Milojevic was disappointed with his team’s performance, particularly the errors that led to Inter’s goals.
“We gave away too many goals because of mistakes,” Milojevic admitted. “We had the same problems in our last game against Benfica and we need to improve if we want to compete at this level.”
After two consecutive losses, Red Star now sits at the bottom of the group and will need to improve significantly to avoid an early exit from the competition.
Inter’s Defensive Solidity
Despite the attacking dominance, Inter Milan’s defense also deserves credit for keeping a clean sheet. Inter’s backline, led by experienced defenders Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij, managed to neutralize any threats from Red Star’s attack. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer had a relatively quiet night but made the necessary saves to keep Red Star from finding the net.
Inter’s defensive organization was particularly impressive given that coach Simone Inzaghi made seven changes to the starting lineup following their Serie A win over Udinese. The rotation did not affect the team’s performance, as they maintained control throughout the match.
Inter’s Champions League Prospects
This win moves Inter Milan up to four points in their group, positioning them well for progression to the knockout stages. With a strong squad and depth in every position, Inter looks poised to compete at the highest level in this season’s Champions League.
“We needed this win after our solid performance in Manchester,” said Inzaghi, referring to their previous 0-0 draw against Manchester City. “We have to continue improving and take it one game at a time.”
Inter’s victory also comes amidst an ongoing investigation into criminal activities involving some of the club’s ultras fan groups. Despite the off-field issues, the team’s performance on the pitch was unaffected, and the fans at the San Siro remained vocal in their support.
Conclusion
Inter Milan’s 4-0 triumph over Red Star Belgrade marks an important step in their Champions League campaign. With goals from Calhanoglu, Arnautovic, Martinez, and Taremi, Inter delivered a complete performance, showing their strength both offensively and defensively. As they look ahead to their next group-stage matches, Inter will aim to build on this momentum and solidify their place among Europe’s elite. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
