Inter could struggle to progress beyond the round of sixteen in the Champions League if their performance against Real Madrid was any evidence, according to Italian media.
The Nerazzurri’s struggles to look truly up to par were highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, who argue that there is still a gap between Inter and Europe’s elite even with their growth.
Inter played an aggressive possession-based game to try and rattle the Merengues and get the three points they needed to overtake the Spanish side in top spot in Group D.
However, it was the La Liga leaders who ultimately looked the more comfortable in the game, with the experience and class of their players showing through as they defended Inter’s waves of attack stoutly and took their chances at the other end.
In the end a rush of blood to the head saw Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella sent off in the second half to make certain of the result for Real.
The Corriere argue that the result came from the fact that Real’s squad has the kinds of players who can cope in big matches like these and produce at the highest level, while the Nerazzurri are not quite there.
It remains to be seen who Inter will draw in the round of sixteen, but whoever they do they will have to show more maturity than they did at the Bernabeu to get the better of them.
