Football, Champions League: Inter-Barcelona 1-2, Conte eliminated

Antonio Conte's Inter is out of the Champions League. Despite the absence of the fresh Golden Ball Leo Messi, a Barcelona already qualified imposes itself 2-1 at San Siro and closes its group stage in the best way. Perez's 22nd-minute goals, Lukaku's 44th-minute goals and 87th-minute goals for baby Fati, who in fact extinguished Conte's dreams. With this result the Nerazzurri eliminated, given the concurrent victory of Borussia Dortmund on Slavia Prague for 2-1. Inter relegated to the Europa League. It fades, therefore the first goal of the season for Conte's team that now will visibly try to give everything in the league where at the moment it is always first in the standings ahead of Juventus. It was not enough a stiff test, dragged by Lautaro Martinez and Lukaku the Nerazzurri tried in every way to bring home the victory strong of the commendable push of their fans. The lack of valid alternatives is fatal, with the energies inevitably coming less in the final. Obviously for the big step something is still missing, even on this the company will have to wonder about the reopening of the January market.

In the Nerazzurri ranks, the usual defensive wall with Godin, Skriniar and De Vrij while D'Ambrosio is on the right with Biraghi on the left. At midfield there are Vecino and Borja Valero alongside Brozovic. Barca already without Messi and extensively reworked, with the former Juventus Neto in goal. In midfield there are Rakitic and Vidal, Inter's own market objectives. Forward Alena, Griezmann and Perez with Suarez on the bench. The San Siro glance was impressive, as it recorded the highest record in the history of the Nerazzurri with 7.8 million euros. In the stands there are among others the president of CONI Giovanni Malagò and the UEFA Aleksandar Ceferin. It should be noted that in the afternoon, 65 Spanish fans were accompanied to the police station by police because they had clubs and sticks.

After five minutes Inter immediately dangerous with a break by Borja Valero in the middle of the pitch, a ball to Lautaro that from the limit kicks but high. A minute later, Lukaku was denied a clear offside goal. The Belgian bomber then has a great chance, on a ball recovered from Vecino, but the conclusion from Lenglet is pushed back in the corner. Compact and aggressive Nerazzurri, as always controlled by Conte from the bench. Barca more maneuverable, but always ready to run towards Handanovic's goal when the opportunity arises. With Borussia already in the lead, Inter are forced to accelerate and move forward. At 20 'it is Neto who saves Barca with a great save on Biraghi's sure-shot injury. The goalkeeper of Barca repeats himself shortly after, when he removes from the head of D'Ambrosio a poisonous parable of Biraghi on punishment. At the first opportunity, however, Barca took the lead with a goal from Carlos Perez, crowning an action initiated by Griezmann and finished 'against his will' by Godin. It is precisely the touch of the Uruguayan, ahead of Vidal, that keeps the Barca striker in play. Conte's team blames the blow and at the half-hour risk of capitulating again, but this time Lenglet incredibly graciously Handanovic in scrum a stone's throw from the door. E 'Lautaro to play the charge for Inter, his splendid right-handed after a valuable hook on De Vrij's launch: Neto para. The shock comes, immediately after D'Ambrosio devours himself of head the draw from two steps on Lukaku's cross. Just the giant former Manchester United sign the deserved draw at 44 ', with a left from the edge on an assist from Lautaro. Almost like a sign of destiny, at the same time comes the draw of Slavia Prague in Dortmund.

At the resumption of operations, Inter is always aggressive in the Barcelona midfield. Valverde's team, however, when it manages to beat the Nerazzurri pressing is always dangerous. Not by chance is Handanovic, on a left of Griezmann, the first real parade of the second half. The new advantage of Borussia, forces Inter to score in turn another goal. Lukaku tries again, twice stopped by a very careful Neto. Meanwhile, Barca's coach began to rotate his big names, inserting Suarez and De Jong in place of Griezmann and Rakitic. Just on an action orchestrated by the two new entrants, Barcelona again close to scoring with Vidal. Count replies with the entry of Lazaro in place of Biraghi on the left. It is still Lautaro who tries to charge the team on his shoulders, the 'bull' again rushes off the net with a left-footed shot. Powered by the 70,000 San Siro, the home team continue to press, Lukaku again commits Neto then Lautaro scores but offside. A quarter of an hour from the end, Conte plays everything for everything, inserting Politano instead of D'Ambrosio and Esposito instead of Borja Valero. Final thrilling: a goal by Lautaro was canceled for offside again, Barca on the counterattack came close again with Perez. The coup of the k.o. the baby phenomenon Fati signs it, just entered, with a deadly right hand from the edge on the Suarez bank. San Siro ice cream, Inter greets the Champions and relegates to the Europa League.