UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 – Matchday 1
Inter Milan
3 – 0
18/09/2024, 21:00 CET
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Attendance: 68,354
Weather: Clear, 22°C
Estrella Roja
Match Summary
Inter Milan delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Estrella Roja in their UEFA Champions League opener at the iconic Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Hakan Çalhanoğlu set the tone early with a breathtaking free-kick in the 12th minute, curling the ball into the top corner. Inter maintained relentless pressure, with Lautaro Martínez doubling the lead in the 67th minute via a clinical volley from Federico Dimarco’s cross. Marcus Thuram sealed the win with a towering header in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a precise delivery from Denzel Dumfries. Estrella Roja, despite moments of resilience, struggled to penetrate Inter’s disciplined defense, managing only two shots on target. The result underscores Inter’s ambitions in the competition, while Estrella Roja will look to regroup for their next fixture.
Match Timeline
- 12′
Goal: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter) – Free-kick - 34′
Yellow Card: Rade Krunić (Estrella Roja) - 45′
Yellow Card: Uroš Spajić (Estrella Roja) - 60′
Substitution: Estrella Roja – Silas Katompa Mvumpa for Nemanja Radonjić - 67′
Goal: Lautaro Martínez (Inter) – Assisted by Federico Dimarco - 75′
Substitution: Inter – Davide Frattesi for Nicolò Barella - 82′
Goal: Marcus Thuram (Inter) – Assisted by Denzel Dumfries - 88′
Substitution: Inter – Piotr Zieliński for Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Match Statistics
Possession
38%
Shots
7
Shots on Target
2
Corners
3
Fouls
14
Passes Completed
298
Expected Goals (xG)
0.6
Lineups
Inter (3-5-2)
- GK: Yann Sommer
- DEF: Benjamin Pavard
- DEF: Alessandro Bastoni
- DEF: Francesco Acerbi
- MID: Denzel Dumfries
- MID: Nicolò Barella
- MID: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (⚽)
- MID: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
- MID: Federico Dimarco
- FWD: Lautaro Martínez (⚽)
- FWD: Marcus Thuram (⚽)
Substitutes
- Davide Frattesi (in 75′)
- Piotr Zieliński (in 88′)
- Carlos Augusto
- Matteo Darmian
Estrella Roja (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Omri Glazer
- DEF: Milan Rodić
- DEF: Uroš Spajić (🟨)
- DEF: Nasser Djiga
- DEF: Seol Young-woo
- MID: Rade Krunić (🟨)
- MID: Guélor Kanga
- MID: Mirko Ivanić
- MID: Nemanja Radonjić
- MID: Bruno Duarte
- FWD: Cherif Ndiaye
Substitutes
- Silas Katompa Mvumpa (in 60′)
- Ognjen Mimović
- Timo Becker
- Aleksandar Katai
Key Moments
- 12′: Çalhanoğlu’s free-kick curled perfectly into the top corner, leaving Glazer with no chance.
- 67′: Dimarco’s pinpoint cross found Martínez, who finished with a first-time volley.
- 82′: Thuram rose highest to meet Dumfries’ cross, powering a header past Glazer.
- 90+2′: Sommer made a crucial save to deny Ndiaye’s late header, preserving Inter’s clean sheet.
Referee and Coaching
- Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
- VAR: Bastian Dankert (Germany)
- Inter Coach: Simone Inzaghi
- Estrella Roja Coach: Vladan Milojević
- Fourth Official: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
Post-Match Quotes
- Simone Inzaghi (Inter Coach): “We started the campaign with the right mentality. The boys were clinical and disciplined, and this sets a strong foundation for the group stage.”
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter): “Scoring early gave us confidence. We controlled the game and deserved the win.”
- Vladan Milojević (Estrella Roja Coach): “Inter were the better side tonight. We need to learn from this and focus on our next match.”
