Football lovers had a greatly enticing show on October 1, 2024, as Inter vs Estrella Roja, or Red Star Belgrade, in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The infamous San Siro stadium hosted this exciting encounter that saw Inter provide their faithful a great night from a 4–0 triumph.

The game was more than just a win. Inter staged beautiful teamwork with control over the ball and precise finishing. This victory bumped them to the top of their group.

Match Setup: Different Styles, Same Goal

Inter Milan started in the usual 3-5-2. This was about controlling the midfield and fast distribution of the ball. The transition from midfield to attack is a nice relay involving the skills of Çalhanoğlu, Barella, and Zieliński. Upfront, Martínez and Taremi have had the baton of attack.

The Estrella Roja side chose a 4-4-2. The plan appeared to be to sit super deep and counter-attack fast. Katai and Ivanić have been important for their attacks.

Key statistics from the game

Let's digest some numbers from the game:

Possession: Inter had pretty close to 52% with Estrella Roja at 48%.

Shots Total: Inter took 15 shots with Estrella Roja taking 11.

Shots on Target: Inter had 7 shots on target while Estrella Roja only had 2.

Passing Accuracy: Inter's passing accuracy was nearly at 90% while Estrella Roja's was around 88%.

Corners: Each team had 2 corners.

Yellow Cards: Inter received 2 cards and Estrella Roja had 1,

The stats show that Inter had better overall control of the game and had the most amount of success in dealing with their chances.

The Big Moments in the Game

Here is how the goals unfolded.

11th minute – Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored with a brilliant free kick; it was a curling shot that went right into the top corner.

59th minute – Marko Arnautović made it 2-0 with a composed finish after a good buildup.

71st minute – Lautaro Martínez scored with a powerful header.

81st minute – Mehdi Taremi scored from the penalty spot to seal the game at 4-0.

Once these goals were met, it was clear that there was no way back for Estrella Roja.

Players of Excellence   

Lautaro Martínez was active the entire match and scored an impressive goal.    

Çalhanoğlu controlled the midfield well while adding the first goal for Inter.    

Marko Arnautović made a great impact from off the bench.    

Yann Sommer came up with some big saves along with a clean sheet in the net.    

The best Estrella Roja players were Mirko Ivanić and goalkeeper Milan Borjan made some great saves despite losing.    

What This Win Means for Inter   

Inter Milan now has 9 points in the group stage with a top spot in the group, having won 3 out of 6 group matches. They are in good shape to qualify for the next round.    

It also showcased that Inter has a well-rounded group of players with experience, good tactics, and attacking prowess.    

A Glimpse into the Crowd   

There were about 56,000 in attendance at the San Siro. The home fans were loud and proud while cheering on their team for every goal scored. Estrella Roja had a handful of travelling supporters who gave their best to support the team, even with the scoreline not going their way.

A Short History of the Clubs

Inter and Estrella Roja are not commonly matched in present-day football, although they have met in other eras of European football. Their last meeting was also a victory for Inter, hence the Italians have a good record in this comparison.

What is Next? 

Inter Milan: Heavily favored to qualify out of the knockouts, Inter has 3 games remaining in the group stage, and all they have to do is keep the momentum going.

Estrella Roja: They were eliminated from qualifying but are now vying for a potential third-place finish to qualify for the Europa League.

Final Reflection from sportsbyte

The performance by Inter vs. Estrella Roja was definitive but entertaining. Inter Milan showed why they are one of the better teams in Europe at the moment by taking good scored chances, having a good defensive game and playing as a team.

Everyone at sportsbyte loves games like this where preparation and teamwork can make all the difference. For Estrella Roja, this was a learning experience. They fought hard and gained confidence, but were overcome by Inter.

Whether you are an Inter Milan fan or just enjoyed a good match, the sporting world is glad you were here to share it.