UCL: Inter held as Real Sociedad win Group D

Inter couldn’t secure the victory they needed to win Group D, as the game ended all square with Real Sociedad.

A win would have made the Serie A leaders winners 9f the group as the La Liga side have a better goal difference than then, having played draws in their two group encounters.

Inter have now finished second in the Champions League group on overall goal difference as both sides had played 1-1 in September and were locked together on 11 points.

The visitors hit the ground running by dominating possession of over 80 percent in the opening 30 minutes. 

Inter threatened through Marcus Thuram, who was brought down on the counter for an Igor Zubeldia yellow card.

The hosts despite being on the back toot in terms of possession had the first real scoring opportunities. Henrikh Mkhitaryan failed to covert his header, which went over the bar.

The Armenian would later have a volley on a deflected Alexis Sanchez pull-back cleared off the line by Hamari Traore.

Knowing that a win was what they needed, the hosts began to pile more pressure as Francesco Acerbi’s scuffed volley and a Federico Dimarco angled drive smothered.

Frattesi’s effort went off target from the Thuram knockdown. Simone Inzaghi then brought on Lautaro Martinez, Nicolò Barella, and Marko Arnautovic in the 65th minute as the search for the win commenced.

There was palpable tension at the San Siro when Real Sociedad were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes when Kubo went on a mazy run from the right between Hakan Calhanoglu and Carlos Augusto. 

The decision was chalked off, and Kubo got into the book for a clear simulation as it was a clear dive, and the Japan international was booked.

After Oyarzabal tested Sommer, Inter, deep into stoppages, almost scored, but Lautaro Martinez’s half-volley from a seemingly impossible angle skimmed the woodwork.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed