Inter Milan continued their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague at San Siro, extending the Czech side’s winless away run against Italian opposition in major European competition to nine matches.
From the outset, the contest was played largely in Slavia’s half, with Inter dictating possession and tempo. Despite their dominance, clear chances were initially hard to come by. Lautaro Martínez spurned the first real opening midway through the half, glancing a header over the bar from close range. Yet the Argentine didn’t have to wait long for redemption or assistance. Visiting goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk played a careless short pass into danger, allowing Martínez to pounce and roll the ball into an empty net for one of the simplest goals of his career.
The breakthrough settled any nerves, and Inter soon tightened their grip on proceedings. Marcus Thuram dazzled on the left before cutting the ball back for Denzel Dumfries, who arrived unmarked to slot home the second from point-blank range. The Nerazzurri maintained their intensity after the interval, with Petar Sučić denied by a last-ditch clearance from Štěpán Chaloupek after rounding the stranded Staněk.
Inter’s relentless pressure eventually told again midway through the second period. A slick counterattack, initiated by Thuram and carried forward by Alessandro Bastoni, ended with the defender squaring for Martínez to sweep in his second of the night and complete the scoring.
With the result beyond doubt, Cristian Chivu introduced several substitutes, resting key players ahead of the weekend’s Serie A fixture against Cremonese. Slavia, by contrast, offered little threat going forward and only forced Yann Sommer into action late on when Muhammed Cham’s speculative drive was comfortably saved.
A near-flawless display saw Inter claim back-to-back wins in the group stage, a feat that bodes well, as every side to start last season’s league phase with two victories progressed to the knockouts. Slavia, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly ahead of their city derby against Sparta Prague.
