Inter - Borussia Dortmund (23 Oct 19) [2-0]

[qb4ever_2k]

We need to beat Dortmund again, beat Slavia and at least a draw with Barca to be considered safe.

Mathematically, we're safe if we beat Dortmund and Slavia as we will be ahead on H2H and at least level on points with BM.

 

[Eddie]

Man forget about last year.
I think we got enough to beat Dortmund away, specially if Sensi is back.
I See us defending good and hitting them on the counters.
I see us playing how we played the first half against Barca.

 

[Pravesh]

It was a well deserved win for us, which fortunately came when we needed the most. I liked how we pressed them from 70th minute onward, even when we were leading 1-0, coz that way we kept Dortmund from going a full go against us (that is how it should be done instead of sitting at the back all the time). Barella, Brozovic and the two forwards did really good pressing Dortmund during that period.

Lukaku had a bad game but it happens. Thankfully, Esposito did very well for his age and experience. He got us the penalty and should have even scored in the rebound (after the penalty miss). Overall, it was a very good game from the lad.

We badly need Sensi back for the away fixture.

 

[Universe]

Equally happy with the clean sheet as I am with the performance and win. I'm also happy with what was a genuinely encouraging and vastly improved performance from Skriniar. He played much more like himself today. He was more composed and confident, applying that aggressive precision to win some of his famous 1v1 challenges that had all but disappeared previously. I was smiling like a lunatic every time the crowd roared when he cleanly won a tackle.

I don't find myself with very much else to discuss after the game tbh. It was just a very solid team performance, aided by the fact that Dortmund no doubt underperformed, and were missing some key players.

It was also nice to see Conte give a few minutes to Valero. Meaningless in the scheme of the game of course, but a nice gesture.

On to the next.

 

[wera]

I thought both teams were poor, but we had the better defence.

It's going to be a different beast to tackle in Dortmund. But we do have to win against them again, I don't want to have to beat Barca in the last game.

 

[Sassuolu]

Javier Candreva, that is all.

 

[Campione]

We showed balls yesterday. Last time we did this in such a crucial "big" match was against Lazio when we qualified for the CL.

Well done. Now move to the next one.

 

[looool]

A decent performance from the boys, Lukaku definitely not in form but expect him to score more goals against weaker opponents.

 

[DARi0]

Hi Guys, carefully watched the match. Happy for the win, however I didn`t enjoy it because of the slow pace and predictable moves. At least we were constantly in control. It was obvious that Conte wanted to keep the game closed and risk very little, I think he owned Favre in this one.

I felt that we were lucky that Reus and Alcácer were out, this made Dortmund toothless and not much to worry about. This is why my expectation was nothing less than a win.

Felt like Barella was not running enough in the 1st half, just like the rest of the team - perhaps it was Conte`s indications not to waste energy to last until the end? They did press much more aggressively in the 2nd half.

Kudos to Handanovic for 2 great saves

I`ve appreciated Candreva`s efforts, he still carries his brainfarts but he doesn`t give up and lasts 90 minutes, so hats off to him per non mollare mai.

Lukaku is still not at his best, but he keeps defenders busy and is a team player, so will wait on him a bit more.

Could not help fantasizing how our play would look like with Witsel instead of Gagliardini (once again, below the average display of the team). I mean Dortmund only payed €20m for him, what a steal.

 

[YoramG]

Mathematically, we're safe if we beat Dortmund and Slavia as we will be ahead on H2H and at least level on points with BM.

It could potentially be even easier than that; if we draw with BVB and beat Slavia, and BVB lose to Barca at the Camp Nou, we’re already through before we play Barca.

 

[ElDuccio]

the pass from De Vrij at the goal is exactly what Conte asked Bonucci to do at Juve.

 

[YoramG]

Felt like Barella was not running enough in the 1st half, just like the rest of the team - perhaps it was Conte`s indications not to waste energy to last until the end?

Can’t say I agree with this, watching it live Barella didn’t stop running and harassing them for even a second. Dude is like Gattuso but with actual footballing abilities.

 

[Wobblz]

"Inter have conceded their fewest shots a single Champions League match since Opta have this kind of data in 2003/04 (five). Wall."

 

[Harpsabu]

Just thinking today. Dortmund have been up there for the last decade probably as one of the better teams in Europe, consistent round of 16 / quarter finals and we beat them pretty easily. We never really looked troubled. How far away did that look only a few years ago. Progress is there at last, we are finally on our way back. Let's hope we get Sensi back for the away trip and hope that dortmund don't sack favre either before then

 

[RichDAS]

I feel happy of Conte's reign at Inter so far. Not sure why people here look down on him. We can clearly see the team improving even just after a few months.

 

[Il Drago]

I feel happy of Conte's reign at Inter so far. Not sure why people here look down on him. We can clearly see the team improving even just after a few months.

I can think of a reason.

 

[Universe]

There's no question we played a consummately and competently professional and mature game. That's something I'm super glad to see. It's also 100% true that Dortmund vastly, vastly underperformed. Both of these things are true at the same time. How much of their poor performance was down to us stifling them, and how much of it was it due to their absent players, is a fair question. I expect them to be a completely different side in the return leg.

 

[Dogen]

A great European night and a textbook 2-0 win, even if against a vain version of Borussia Dortmund.

As we have experienced in the last 20 minutes against Sassuolo, there are still plenty of “Inter-ferences” in this J-nter project of genetic engineering conducted by Marotta and Conte. Last night we all had a bad feeling when Brozovic miscontrolled that pass from Godin, but we're used and always ready for some craziness involving Inter, for the bad Inter-ferences and the good ones. Just bring them.

It looks like Lautaro has stepped up big time since the game against Barcelona and it feels so good to have De Vrij controlling, organizing and playing from the back with back-to-back assists. Same can be said about Brozo being the only source of light in midfield (or “the minister who preaches”, to quote that madman and riverplatense of Lele Adani) and Barella oozing personality and showing grit and fighting spirit like he's been playing these CL clashes for a number of seasons. And grande Handa when it mattered the most, making it feel like ordinary administration as it often happens.

The early Lukaku-Esposito substitution was a courageous one and it really paid off.
In a better football world, Sebastiano would have been given the chance to take the penalty kick (the one he earned with determination like the clever and cunning scugnizzo he is, after an exciting run) and would have scored it with ease, putting himself on the map in his CL debut, mediatically speaking.

No big deal, we still have the "ball control + elastico attempt" gif and maybe this is a better world: Candreva counter-attacking like a cavallo pazzo in the pasture and finishing with style was the most classic of the “liberatory” goals and it can't get any better than that. Andiamo.

Martinez is probably the only player in the world who scores more while on the ground than standing lol.

Almost Gilardin-esque in his sliding goals (also in the way he still misses some clear goalscoring chances when he has more time to think).
He's really moved up gears in the last few games.

 

[Devious]

Just thinking today. Dortmund have been up there for the last decade probably as one of the better teams in Europe, consistent round of 16 / quarter finals and we beat them pretty easily. We never really looked troubled. How far away did that look only a few years ago. Progress is there at last, we are finally on our way back. Let's hope we get Sensi back for the away trip and hope that dortmund don't sack favre either before then

They were missing their Sensi and Brozovic btw.

 

[Wobblz]

We were missing Sensi and Sanchez, so you can't really say we were full-strength while they were weakened. We had to use a 17-year-old in what is probably the most important game for qualifying out of the group. I mean, if Esposito wasn't the gem he is we were basically fucked with inadequate Lukaku till the end of the game.