Al - Nassr 1 - 1 Inter: the Nerazzurri held to draw in Osaka

MATCH DETAILS

AL-NASSR 1-1 INTER

Goals: 23' Ghareeb (A), 44' Frattesi (I).

AL-NASSR (4-2-3-1): 44 Alaqidi; 2 Al Ghannam S. (12 Boushal 46'), 78 Lajami (4 Al Fatil 46'), 3 Madu (5 Al Amri 46'), 15 Telles (13 Konan 46'); 6 Fofana (17 Al Khaibari 46'), 77 Brozovic (14 Al Naji 46' (21 Ali 71')); 94 Talisca (31 Suhluli 46' (46 Al Elewai 67')), 11 Al Ghannam K. (19 Al Hassan 46'), 29 Ghareeb (18 Adam 46'); 7 Ronaldo (8 Al Sulayhim 46'). Substitutes: 1 Bukhari, 33 Abdullah Ali, 23 Yahya. Coach: Luis Castro.

INTER (3-5-2): 35 Stankovic F. (12 Di Gennaro 72'); 31 Bisseck (36 Darmian 46'), 6 De Vrij (15 Acerbi 46'), 95 Bastoni (50 Stankovic A 72'); 2 Dumfries (17 Cuadrado 46'), 23 Barella (5 Sensi 46'), 20 Calhanoglu (21 Asllani 46'), 16 Frattesi (14 Fabbian 72'), 8 Gosens (32 Dimarco 46'); 10 Lautaro (30 Esposito 72'), 11 Correa (9 Thuram 46'). Substitutes: 40 Calligaris, 19 Lazaro, 22 Mkhitaryan, 44 Stabile. Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Added time: 1', 3'.

Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura. Assistants: Takumi Takagi - Isao Nishihashi. Fourth Official: Hiroki Kasahara.

The desire to play, to show up and produce a good performance, to celebrate with each other.

All of this and more was on the Nerazzurri players' minds as they took to the pitch for their first friendly in Japan. After the run-outs against Lugano and Pergolettese, the first fixture of the Inter Japan Tour 2023 saw Inzaghi's side come up against Al-Nassr, who are ready to play their first competitive match of the season (they'll begin their Arab Club Champions Cup campaign tomorrow). The performance produced by the Nerazzurri at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka was a positive one, with the game ending 1-1 following Davide Frattesi's equaliser (his first Inter goal).

Going into today's game, there was no shortage of objectives: the Nerazzurri wanted to get minutes into their legs, refine their understanding and make a good impression in front of a new crowd. Stankovic started in goal, while de Vrij, Bisseck and Bastoni were selected in defence. The trio in the middle of the mark consisted of Calhanoglu, Barella and Frattesi, with Dumfries and Gosens lining up on the flanks. Up front were Lautaro and Correa.

The first meaningful attempt came from Cristiano Ronaldo, whose shot was saved by Stankovic, but play was stopped due to the Portuguese man being in an offside position. At the other end, Frattesi met a Calhanoglu free-kick with his head but was unable to direct it on target. The Turk was heavily involved as he sent in another two set-pieces for de Vrij and Lautaro, but neither were able to open the scoring. Stankovic kept the score level with an excellent 20th-minute save to keep out Anderson Talisca's header, but he wasn't able to prevent Ghareeb finding the net three minutes later.

The tempo increased and Inter created several chances as they looked to draw level. In the 27th minute, after De Vrij had recovered possession, Lautaro was slipped in by Calhanoglu but was unable to get the better of Alaqidi. Two minutes later, El Toro was again in the heart of the action as he found Correa, who shot straight at the goalkeeper. On the half-hour mark, there was a triple chance for Inter, with the Argentine duo and Dumfries all failing to find the net. However, the Dutchman was then involved in the equaliser, sending in a cross for Davide Frattesi, one of the match's standout players, to score with his head at the end of the half.

There were wholesale changes at the break as Dimarco, Cuadrado, Thuram, Asllani, Sensi, Darmian and Acerbi all came on. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr made ten substitutions on the 50-minute mark. Lautaro remained on the pitch and had another opportunity following some fantastic work by Thuram, but Alaqidi stood firm. Asllani had two efforts at goal within the space of a few seconds in the 57th minute and another with 14 minutes of normal time to go. In between, there was an attempt from Sensi and a huge chance for Lautaro, who fired over after a move involving Thuram and Cuadrado. Inter were in complete control and, despite not being able to find a winner, showed plenty of positive signs ahead of the new campaign. Now, it's time for the team to prepare for their next fixture on the Inter Japan Tour, which will see them face Paris Saint-Germain in Tokyo on Tuesday 1 August.

LIVE MATCH

90+3' - Full-time in Osaka. The match between Al-Nassr and Inter ends 1-1, with everything happening in the first half: The Saudis took the lead in 23' through Ghareeb before Frattesi equalised in 44'. A good performance from the Nerazzurri who next take to the field on Tuesday 1 August against Paris Saint Germain in Tokyo.

90+2' - Wonderful play from Thuram who sets up Esposito: His shot is blocked

90' - Three additional minutes to be played at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka

88' - Al Elewai runs in from the left and has a shot - a safe save for Di Gennaro

87' - Both teams' fatigue is beginning to come to the fore in this match

82' - Big chance for Al-Nassr! Al Hassan, one on one with the goalkeeper, sat Di Gennaro down with a feint, but instead of shooting, he tried to chip it to his teammate, Al Elewai, in the middle and the Inter defence are able to clear

76' - Dangerous right-footed shot from Asllani from outside of the area, but the Nerazzurro 21 cannot hit the target

72' - Another four substitutes for Simone Inzaghi's men: On the pitch, Di Gennaro, Aleksandar Stankovic, Esposito and Fabbian in the places of Filip Stankovic, Bastoni, Lautaro e Frattesi, the only starters who were still on the pitch

69' - Inter have been a lot more lively in this second half: The Nerazzurri are controlling the game and are attacking in waves

66' - Unbelievable chance for Lautaro! Cuadrado crosses into the middle for Thuram who loses his marker and the ball ends up at the feet of Il Toro in a great position, but he shoots well over the bar

65' - Cuadrado finds Frattesi on the edge of the box, who feeds the ball to Sensi: A well-struck shot just past Alaqidi's post

62' - Sensi finds himself in a dangerous position but is unable to direct his effort on target

59' - Switch from Asllani to Cuadrado who puts a delicate cross into the middle of the box, finding Lautaro. His effort is just over

57' - Two chances for Asllani. First, the Albanian slalomed his way around the Al-Nassr defence, his effort saved by Alaqidi. He then received the ball on the edge of the area and shaped to curl it into the top corner. The ball flashed just beyond the post

50' - Ten substitutions for Al-Nassr, changing all the outfield players. Chance for Lautaro, created by Thuram. The Argentine gets a second attempt but the Al-Nassr goalkeeper is equal to both

46' - The match restarts at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka: seven changes for the Nerazzurri who are fielding a very different line-up to that of the first half

FIRST HALF

45+1' - And that concludes the first half. We go into the break at 1-1, with Frattesi finding the equaliser after Ghareeb initially took the lead for Al-Nassr

45' - One minute of added time: Correa tries an attempt from the edge of the box but Alaqidi saves

44' - EQUALISER! Frattesi! Great play from Lautaro, who flicked the ball to Dumfries on the right. The Dutchman's cross found an unmarked Frattesi in the middle of the box, who nods it down brilliantly into the far left-hand corner of the net. No chance for the keeper! 1-1 and Davide's first goal for the Nerazzurri!

42' - The Nerazzurri are manipulating the ball well, trying to find an opening but to no avail

39' - Al-Nassr are trying to manage the game, keeping possession of the ball

33' - Barella's cross for Dumfries from the left. The Dutchman tries to play it back across goal but is unable to find a Nerazzurro shirt.

30' - Triple chance for Inter! First, Correa finds space in the box but doesn't find the finish, and then Lautaro sees his shot saved by Alaqidi. The ball ends up at the feet of Dumfries but his right-footed effort is blocked by the Al-Nassr goalkeeper again, with the support of his whole defence on the line.

29' - Again, Inter come close to finding the equaliser. Lautaro plays Correa in behind the Al-Nassr defence, but his shot is straight at Alaqidi.

27' - What a chance for Lautaro! De Vrij does well to win the ball high, feeding Calhanoglu who slips il Toro in. Face to face with Alaqidi, the Argentine shoots hard and low to the far corner but the goalkeeper does extremely well to get fingertips to the ball.

23' - Goal for Al-Nassr - Talisca exchanges a 1-2 with Ronaldo before floating a ball over the Inter defence for Ghareeb who found himself 1 on 1 with Stankovic. He made no mistake with the volley. 1-0.

22' - Shot from Ronaldo from distance: Struck well but inaccurate - doesn't trouble Stankovic's goal

20' - Massive save from Stankovic! The Nerazzurro goalkeeper does well to parry Anderson Talisca's header

17' - Inter again, another free-kick: Another corner from Calhanoglu for the header from Lautaro. This time his header goes over the bar.

16' - Calhanoglu drops a tricky freekick onto the head of De Vrij, but Alaqidi is able to block with ease

15' - Not much rhythm in this first period: fragmented play and lots of interventions from the referee

12' - Inter close! A precise corner from Calhanoglu directed for Frattesi's head: The ball flashes just wide

8' - Seko Fofana tries an effort from way out: The Ivorian midfielder's shot flies over the crossbar

7' - Dangerous move from the Saudi team with Talisca who plays it through to Ronaldo: The Portuguese's shot is blocked by Stankovic. The number 7 is then called offside.

5' - Good ball from Bastoni for Gosens who finds space on the left: his cross doesn't find anyone in the middle of the area, and the Al-Nassr defence clear

2' - Al-Nassr's first attack: strike from Al Ghannam, the Saudi winger's shot from outside the box is comfortably gathered by Stankovic

1' - And we're off! The match between Al-Nassr and Inter has begun: The Nerazzurri kick-off. Forza ragazzi!

Everything is ready in Osaka for the first friendly of Inter's Japan Tour 2023: The Nerazzurri take on Al-Nassr at the Yanmar Stadium, Nagai.