Inter-Sheriff Tiraspol: 3-1 - Champions 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Where the match is played:
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza
City: Milano
Capacity for: 80074 people20:33

Hello and welcome to this Champions League Group D fixture between Inter and Sheriff. Inter enter this one under pressure. Following a defeat to Real Madrid and a draw with Shakhtar Donetsk, they sit on just one point from two games and if they fail to win today, they’ll face an uphill battle to make the last 16.20:33

Sheriff, on the other hand, have been the surprise package of the tournament so far! They’ve improbably beaten Real Madrid away and Shakhtar at home to kick off their Champions League debut with a 100 per cent record. They’ll be quietly hoping that they can spring yet another surprise today.20:33

INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Federico Dimarco; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Arturo Vidal, Ivan Perisic; Edin Dzeko, Lauturo Martinez.20:39

SUBS: Joaquin Correa, Matias Vecino, Andrea Ranocchia, Aleksandar Kolarov, Alex Cordaz, Alexis Sanchez, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Stefano Sensi, Roberto Gagliardini, Alessandro Bastoni, Ionut Radu, Matteo Darmian.20:39

SHERIFF (4-3-3): Dumitru Celeadnic; Fernando Costanza, Gustavo Dulanto, Danilo Arboleda, Cristiano; Sebastien Thill, Dimitris Kolovos, Edmond Addo; Adama Traore, Bruno, Frank Andersson Castaneda Velez.20:49

SUBS: Stjepan Radeljic, Maxim Cojocaru, Momo Yansane, Serghei Pascenco, Boban Nikolov, Moussa Kyabou, Serafim Cojocaru, Keston Julien.20:49

Inter make three changes to the side that suffered a disappointing loss to Lazio last time out. The main news is that talismanic striker Martinez returns to the side in place of Gagliardini. Meanwhile, Darmian and Bastoni make way for Dumfries and Vidal.20:52

There are two changes from Sheriff’s side that pulled off a stunning win over Madrid. Bruno replaces the goalscorer, Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, up top. Meanwhile, their goalkeeper from that, Giorgos Athanasiadis, is also out with an injury and Celeadnic comes in.21:04

Sheriff are looking to become just the third team in the 21st Century to win their first three games in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, after Leicester City in 2016-17 and Malaga in 2012-13.20:56

The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!20:58

Inter get the first half underway.21:00

Dzeko knocks it off Dulanto after a flowing Inter move to win their first corner. It's worked short, allowing Dimarco to fire in a dangerous cross that Skriniar heads over from eight yards.21:06

Sheriff win their first corner after Costanza's shot flicks off Dimarco. Skriniar heads the delivery clear though.21:06

SHERIFF GO CLOSE! Cristiano flashes a brilliant delivery across the face of goal where an unmarked Traore is waiting! Traore misses his volley entirely and it falls to Castaneda Velez who can't quite get it under control and Inter clear.21:08

Sheriff clear another corner from Dimarco.21:08

Dzeko and Perisic play a clever one-two and for a moment it looks like the latter will be through on goal! However, Costanza anticipates the danger and slides in to knock it behind.21:10

Dimarco's corner is headed well over by De Vrij. Nevertheless, Sheriff have looked vulnerable from set-pieces so far.21:10

Cristiano's corner is glanced well wide by Dulanto.21:13

Chance! Inter hit Sheriff with a rapid counter. Dzeko receives a pass from Martinez before holding it up and threading it through to Dumfries! However, Dumfries' touch is a little heavy and Celeadnic bravely rushes out to smother the ball!21:16

SAVE! Another flowing Inter move culminates with Martinez flicking it through to Dzeko who lobs it straight against the torso of Celeadnic as he rushes out to close down the angle!21:17

Perisic sucks in two defenders down the left flank, before releasing Dimarco inside the box. Dimarco gets too excited though and rifles a powerful effort over from a tight angle.21:18

After a nervy start, Inter are in full control now - they're dominating possession while creating plenty of chances. 21:21

Inter have a poor recent record in the Champions League and the longer this one remains 0-0 the more nervous they might get. They've only won one of their last nine games in the competition (D4 L4), while they’re winless in the most recent three without scoring a goal (D2 L1). Indeed, the Italian side have failed to score in five of their last seven games in the competition.21:24

Barella's speculative 25-yard volley sails well over the bar.21:25

Vidal flicks it against Costanza and the defender is penalised for a handball. Dimarco whips in a dangerous cross but Traore manages to win it and clear the ball upfield. 21:27

Close! Barella nudges it into Dumfries inside the box and the wing-back slams a vicious effort into the side-netting from eight yards!21:28

Close! Traore leads a three-on-two for the visitors and frees Kolovos inside the box! However, Martinez — who lost the ball for Inter originally — races back to block it behind for a corner. The resulting set-piece amounts to nothing. 21:30

Perisic angles a deep cross towards Dumfries, but Bruno tracks back to head it behind. Dimarco takes the corner, but his powerful near-post delivery flicks off Vidal and sails away from danger. 21:32

SAVE! An Addo handball presents Inter with a promising free-kick near the touchline. Dimarco opts to try an ambitious strike, but it's parried over brilliantly by Celeadnic.21:34

Vidal rose highest at the near post to flick the corner on and fortunately for the midfielder, it sailed perfectly on for Dzeko to blast in.21:36

Well, that's a relief for Inter. After struggling to score recently in the Champions League they must have been worrying that this was going to be another fruitless occasion. 21:37

Dumfries tries to latch onto Barella's long pass over the top, but Cristiano bundles him out of play. 21:38

Sheriff catch a breath with a long spell of possession just inside their own half.21:39

Chance! Sheriff work a neat move that ends with Kovolos freeing Cristiano on the edge of the box. Cristiano takes a touch before firing a powerful effort towards the near post that Handanovic pushes away!21:41

Close! Perisic receives a pass on the edge of the box, before curling a precise, low effort towards the bottom corner! Celeadnic manages to just about get down to it and push the shot around the post though.21:43

A succession of Inter corners come to nothing as Sheriff continue to defend bravely.21:44

Celeadnic pushes away De Vrij's header at the near post, following Dimarco's corner.21:45

HALF TIME: Inter 1-0 Sheriff21:45

Dzeko's super volley gives Inter the lead at the break. Inter have largely been in control of this one, but they have had their scares. Traore wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring for the visitors when he missed his kick within the opening 15 minutes. But the hosts calmed down and began to create chances. Eventually, Vidal's header found Dzeko at the back post and the striker smashed in a memorable volley. From there Perisic could have doubled the lead, but Inter know they'll likely need a second goal to feel safe in the second half.21:47

Sheriff created their fair share of chances on the break in that half, and they'll be hoping that they can clinically convert a similar opportunity after the interval.22:01

Sheriff get the second half underway.22:02

The Sheriff captain, Castaneda Velez, is replaced by Radeljic as the visitors switch to a back three for the second half to match up Inter.22:02

Save! Sheriff hit Inter on the break again. This time Bruno dribbles towards the edge of the box, before firing a powerful effort straight down the throat of Handanovic, who manages to hold on.22:03

Perisic finds Dimarco on the underlap near the byline. The wing-back hammers in a cross, but he slices it slightly and it flies into the side-netting. 22:05

Chance! Sheriff are looking threatening. Bruno dances into the box and rides a challenge from De Vrij before dinking it just beyond Traore at the back post! If that cross was a little more accurate, Traore would have had a tap-in!22:07

Dimarco is shown a yellow card after tripping Bruno to halt a breakaway. 22:10

Dimarco is replaced by Bastoni immediately after the goal.22:11

Close! Inter almost go ahead immediately. Perisic's cross falls to Dumfries at the back post, but the wing-back wastefully lofts high eight-yard strike high over the bear.22:11

Off the post! Dzeko releases Perisic and the winger goes through on goal at a tight angle. He opts to try and smash it in at the near post, and although he beats Celeadnic it comes back off the woodwork and Sheriff survive. 22:14

It was a wonderful assist from Dzeko. He held it up and drew in the defence, before picking out Vidal with a precise, low pass and the midfielder did the rest!22:15

Well, Sheriff have to find another equaliser! It took a stunning free-kick to get them back on level terms initially and you wonder if they have something similar in store later on.22:16

Dzeko has led the line superbly for Inter today. He's taken two shots and created three chances, resulting in a goal and an assist.22:17

Chance! Martinez feeds Perisic near the byline and the attacker hammers in a low cross that Radeljic cuts out just before Dzeko arrives to knock it in!22:18

Traore wins a corner after taking on Bastoni. Sheriff work it short, before Thill spins in a dangerous cross that Dulanto nods wide of the near post.22:20

Sheriff still look menacing on the break and you sense Inter might need a third goal to make this safe. 22:21

Close! Brozovic's corner flicks off Martinez and bounces into Arboleda before looping just wide of the near post!22:23

De Vrij was assisted by his compatriot Dumfries. The wing-back rose highest to nod it invitingly into the six-yard box and De Vrij anticipated the chance before finishing clinically.22:25

Well, Inter should be safe now. At 2-1 you sensed that a Sheriff counter-attack could level this game once more, but with a two-goal deficit, this could be beyond the visitors now.22:26

Perisic attempts an audacious chip from 20 yards, but Celeadnic is barely off his line and he gathers it easily.22:26

Despite the goal, Sheriff have struggled to create chances in the second half. They've taken just three shots since the interval - all of which, have come from outside the box. 22:28

Dzeko places a cute lay-off into the path of Martinez who lashes a vicious effort that Dulanto blocks behind. The resulting corner amounts to nothing. 22:30

Sheriff make a change as they look to inject some energy into the game: Addo makes way for Nikolov.22:31

Inter make two changes as they refresh their lineup. The first sees Dzeko make way for Sanchez after a brilliant display.22:31

Vidal walks off to be replaced by Gagliardini.22:32

Inter have slowed the tempo down now as they look to ease their way to three points.22:32

Barella's pass flicks off Thill and almost rolls fortuitously through to Sanchez, but Dulanto gets across to clear. 22:36

There's a brief delay as Kolovos requires treatment, but he should be okay to continue.22:37

Off the bar! An intricate Inter move ends with Martinez and Perisic converging on a loose ball 12 yards out. They both aim to strike it with the last touch coming off Perisic and it thunders back off the bar! 22:41

Kolovos departs with Cojocaru coming on following that knock.22:41

Two more changes for Inter. First of all, Brozovic is taken off for Sensi.22:42

Perisic also heads off to be replaced by Kolarov.22:42

Cristiano almost latches onto a loose ball at the back post, but Dumfries is alive to the danger and shepherds it out of play.22:43

Cojocaru is booked following a cynical trip on Sanchez.22:45

Inter continue to hold possession as they look to ensure that there's no way back for Sheriff.22:45

Close! A flowing Inter move culminates with Sensi rifling a powerful shot across goal and just wide from 20 yards!22:46

Traore is replaced by Cojocari up top.22:47

Three minutes of stoppage time are added on.22:47

Save! Kolarov picks out Martinez inside the box and the striker fires a fierce volley back at goal that Celeadnic acrobatically palms over!22:48

FULL TIME: Inter 3-1 Sheriff22:49

Inter finally get up and running in Group D with a 3-1 win over Sheriff. The hosts shook off a nervy start where Traore could have given the visitors the lead, and controlled the first half. After a raft of chances, they eventually took the lead when Dzeko thundered in a superb volley from 12 yards. But Sheriff have proven their resilience multiple times in the Champions League so far, and did so again when Thill equalised early in the second half with a tremendous 30-yard free-kick. Inter got over this wobble though and reestablished themselves with goals from Vidal and De Vrij, to ensure that they secured a much-needed 3-1 win. 22:53

The result means that Inter climb above Shakhtar and into third place - two points behind both Real Madrid and Sheriff.22:54

That's all for now though, goodbye!22:55