Inter 1 - 0 Barcelona

INTER 1-0 BARCELONA

Goalscorer: 45+2' Calhanoglu

INTER (3-5-2): 24 Onana; 37 Skriniar, 6 De Vrij (15 Acerbi 77'), 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian (2 Dumfries 77'), 23 Barella, 20 Calhanoglu (14 Asllani 85'), 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (8 Gosens 77'); 10 Lautaro, 11 Correa (9 Dzeko 56'). Substitutes: 1 Handanovic, 40 Botis, 5 Gagliardini, 12 Bellanova, 33 D'Ambrosio, 45 Carboni, 46 Zanotti. Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): 1 Ter Stegen; 20 Sergi Roberto, 15 Christensen (3 Piqué 58'), 24 Eric Garcia, 17 Marcos Alonso (28 Balde 64'); 30 Gavi (19 Kessie 83'), 5 Busquets, 8 Pedri; 7 Dembélé, 9 Lewandowski, 22 Raphinha (10 Fati 64'). Substitutes: 26 Inaki Pena, 36 Tenas, 11 Ferran Torres, 18 Jordi Alba, 29 Casado, 32 Torre. Coach: Xavi.

Booked: Barella (I), Busquets (B), Calhanoglu (I), Lautaro (I), Gavi (B), Bastoni (I), Onana (I) Note: Xavi (B) booked for dissent; Inzaghi booked (I) Added time: 3' - 8'.

Referee: Vincic (SLO). Assistants: Klančnik, Kovačič (SLO). Fourth official: Rade Obrenovič (SLO). VAR: Van Boekel (NED). VAR assistant: Higler (NED).

It was Inter’s night. The one that the more than 70,000 fans who packed inside San Siro wanted. Together, as one. This is Inter. Focused, precise, selfless, attentive. Lethal. Inspired by the roar of the Meazza. The Nerazzurri dug deep and fought for every single ball, right until the 99th minute. And a massive 1-0 victory was the result. The man who got the winner was Calhanoglu, who produced a truly standout display. But it was a team performance, starting from Onana and his defence, who were able to limit Lewandowski. Then there was Dimarco, who shone on the flank, and the midfielders, who went to battle to snuff out Gavi and Pedri’s short passing. Finally, the attackers, who constantly kept the visitors on their toes. Three crucial points have been added to the tally, and Inter now sit on six.

With Bayern having got the better of Viktoria Plzen in the early evening, Inter and Barcelona, both locked on three points, only had one thing on their minds before tonight’s match kicked off: boost their hopes of progressing in the Champions League with a win. They also knew that the return fixture would be coming up very soon – on 12 October, in fact – but all thoughts were on the showdown at San Siro. Inter took to the pitch in determined fashion; it was clear that they didn’t want to miss an opportunity. Calhanoglu had the first meaningful effort of the night, letting fly with a vicious long-range strike that forced ter Stegen into a fine fingertip stop.

The Meazza was loud, roaring the Nerazzurri on. Inter were up against the Blaugrana’s slick passing game, but they were able to prevent their opponents from creating any clear-cut chances. De Vrij did well to keep Lewandowski quiet, with Dembélé posing the biggest threat for Xavi’s side on the right wing. On that flank, there was also Dimarco, who was at the heart of the action. On the left side of the pitch, opportunities started to come about for Inter, who, after the 20-minute mark, came out of their shell and made it clear that the game wouldn’t just be played in the Nerazzurri half.

In the 24th minute, VAR took centre stage: the referee initially didn’t award Inter a penalty for a clear handball, but, after a review, Lautaro was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Correa then found the net but was offside, meaning it didn’t count (29’). With the half almost over, the Nerazzurri struck. Dimarco started the move with a delicious cross-field pass and Calhanoglu finished it off, picking out the bottom corner with a sweet strike from distance. The Meazza erupted, Inter headed into the break in front.

Barcelona were inevitably going to go on the attack. Dembélé hit the post just past the hour mark before Pedri scored after 68 minutes, only for the goal to be chalked off for a handball by the newly introduced Fati. Barcelona’s No.10 was proving hard to contain as the visitors started to pin their opponents back. However, Inzaghi’s side held firm and tried to strike on the counter. The clock was slowly counting down.

Eight minutes were added on, with there being another VAR check for a possible penalty for Barcelona. It wasn’t given. Cards were brandished and things started to get increasingly heated; it was a real show both on and off the pitch. And then the referee blew the full-time whistle, much to the delight of the San Siro crowd, who had seen their team give absolutely everything and deservedly emerge victorious.

LIVE UPDATES

ALL OVER! INTER WIN 1-0 THANKS TO CALHANOGLU'S FIRST-HALF STRIKE!

90+5' Dembélé's cross bounces just past the far post. Inter are having to dig deep here.

EIGHT MINUTES ADDED ON

89' Busquets' diving header from Dembélé's free-kick goes wide.

80' Piqué makes a crucial intervention to stop Dzeko from possibly doubling Inter's advantage from Barella's cross.

68' Pedri finds the net but it's ruled out due to a handball by Ansu Fati. It remains 1-0 to Inter.

61' Dembélé hits the post for Barcelona.

46' The second half kicks off. No substitutions at half-time.

LIVE UPDATES

Half-time! Inter lead thanks to Calhanoglu's great strike!

45+2' GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL! Calhanoglu fires home from distance! 1-0!

36' Dembele twists and turns against Calhanoglu but his shot hits the side-netting!

29' Correa scores but it won't count. Offside.

24' A VAR review following a handball in the box doesn't lead to an Inter penalty: Lautaro is adjudged to have been in an offside position.

21' A lovely ball across the face of goal from Mkhitaryan but no Inter player is there to convert. Instead, Pedri puts it behind for a corner.

18' Lewandowski scuffs his effort from the edge of the box, allowing Onana to comfortably collect.

14' Christensen heads towards goal from a corner, it's easy for Onana.

7' Calhanoglu forces Ter Stegen into a fingertip stop!

1' Inter vs. Barcelona kicks off at San Siro.

A minute's silence is observed to remember the victims of the recent tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Indonesia.

GROUP C STANDINGS Bayern Munich 12 Inter 7 Barcelona 4 Viktoria Plzen 0

MATCHDAY 4 Barcelona 3-3 Inter Viktoria Plzen 2-4 Bayern Munich

MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday 26 October Inter vs. Viktoria Plzen, 18:45 CEST Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich, 21:00 CEST MATCHDAY 6 Tuesday 1 November Bayern Munich vs. Inter, 21:00 CET Viktoria Plzen vs. Barcelona, 21:00 CET