A penalty in injury time of the first half condemned us to our first Champions League defeat of the season.

Mikel Merino was penalized when the ball bounced off his arm, and Hakan Calhanoglu scored from twelve yards – Inter’s only shot on target all night.

From that moment on we had the better of the game, but were frustrated by the home team, who have yet to make any concessions in the competition this season.

Kai Havertz had our best chance, but his shot went wide on a night when we couldn’t convert our possession into goals.

Early scare

On our first visit to football’s cathedral, the Stadio San Siro since 2018, it was the hosts who started better.

They got around us early and right back Denzel Dumfries hit the crossbar within just two minutes as David Raya was beaten. A minute later, Calhanoglu fired a shot just wide when he was given space twenty meters out.

We had to weather an early storm in a lively atmosphere, and it was only when we won our first corner after fifteen minutes that we were able to get in sight of the Italian champion’s goal.

Our second corner turned out to be more dangerous. Bukayo Saka’s inswinger was hit away under his own crossbar by Yann Sommer.

However, the dual attacking force of Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi asked our defensive questions, and Gabriel had to show excellent recovery pace to overtake the latter before he could intervene in time as the Iranian was about to break in.

We started to grow into the game. Saka cut into the penalty area on his favored left foot, but did not generate enough power in his shot. It was the first attempt on goal, on either side, just before the half hour mark.

Our ball from set pieces caused problems and a cross from open play was cleared off Mikel Merino’s head by Sommer’s flying fist. There was a call for a penalty kick because the goalkeeper collided with our Spanish midfielder when he cleared the ball.

Punishment pain

We had calmed down after some nerves in the beginning and every cross into the Inter box caused panic in the home defense.

But just when we seemed to be taking control of the game, we fell behind. Merino was unlucky to be penalized for a handball in the area as the ball bounced towards him and Calhanoglu converted from twelve yards. It was the first goal we conceded in this season’s Champions League, and also the last kick of the half.

It was Merino’s last participation of the evening. He was replaced by Gabriel Jesus during the break.

Momentum is building

Gabriel Martinelli shot into the side netting and William Saliba couldn’t quite reach another searching corner as we started the second half positively.

After good work by Jesus, Saka saw his cross just shoot away from the oncoming Havertz. His next cross, from a corner, was even closer: it was cleared off the line at the far post.

Havertz was next to try his luck, and Sommer scrambled back to clear his looping attempt.

Inter tried to frustrate and disrupt the game at every opportunity, defending their lead as we put more pressure on them.

Havertz then had a wonderful opportunity when the ball fell to him in a central position eight meters away. He reacted well to get his shot away, but it went agonizingly wide.

Ethan Nwaneri and Oleksandr Zinchenko showed up to salvage something from the match. We dominated possession, held Inter back, but could not force the breakthrough.

What’s next

Our UEFA Champions League campaign resumes at the end of the month, away to high-flying Sporting Lisbon, but before then we have Premier League games away against Chelsea and then at home against Nottingham Forest, either side of the international break.