MILAN – Inter are in the last 16 of the Europa League thanks to a 1-0 win over Celtic at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. After a fiercely contested affair, the Nerazzurri’s safe passage into the next round was secured by a Fredy Guarin thunderbolt in the closing stages of the match.
Celtic started well, with Mackay-Steven’s shot drawing a smart save from Carrizo in the 6th minute. The Nerazzurri responded instantly, however, with Medel and Hernanes combining to set up Guarin. The Colombian’s shot, though powerful, whistled harmlessly past Gordon’s right-hand post.
The match was finely poised, with both sides looking to attack. On 19 minutes, Santon worked a yard on the left to fire in a low cross looking for Palacio and Icardi, but neither of the lurking Argentines could apply the finish.
The Hoops were clearly looking to keep in compact at the back and sting the Nerazzurri on the break, but their strategy was undone when van Dijk picked up a second yellow card in the 36th minute, leaving the Scots a man short.
Inter sought to make their numerical advantage pay and came within inches of taking the lead on 43 minutes. First Shaqiri had his left-footed effort blocked just yards from goal, before D’Ambrosio’s follow-up met its match in the form of the inspired Craig Gordon. Largely thanks to the Scottish keeper’s heroics, the teams went in level at half-time.
The second half was all about the Nerazzurri, with Hernanes and Guarin pulling the strings in the middle of the park. The Colombian has been enjoying some scintillating form recently and seemed determined to be the difference between the two sides.
In the 53rd minute, he drew yet another smart save from Gordon, before smashing a long-range effort just wide on the hour mark. There was a growing urgency among the Nerazzurri ranks, and they again went close thanks to some lovely combination play from Icardi, Palacio and Shaqiri. Maurito played in Palacio, who dinked a header square for Shaqiri – the Swiss stretched every sinew in his body, but couldn’t quite make telling contact with the goal gaping.
Guarin’s star turn arrived in the 88th minute. Receiving the ball from Davide Santon, the Colombian maestro shifted his weight and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net. San Siro erupted into song.
INTER 1-0 CELTIC (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Guarin 88.
INTER: 30 Carrizo; 33 D'Ambrosio (Campagnaro 80), 23 Ranocchia, 5 Juan Jesus, 21 Santon; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 88 Hernanes (Kovacic 80); 91 Shaqiri; 9 Icardi, 8 Palacio (Puscas 89).
Subs not used: 1 Handanovic, 10 Kovacic, 15 Vidic, 17 Kuzmanovic, 20 Obi.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
CELTIC: 26 Gordon; 2 Matthews, 22 Denayer, 5 van Dijk, 3 Izaguirre; 8 Brown, 6 Bitton; 16 Mackay-Steven (Ambrose 40), 25 Johansen, 14 Armstrong (Commons 78); 9 Guidetti (Forrest 58).
Subs not used: 24 Zaluska, 10 Stokes, 32 Wakaso, 53 Henderson.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Booked: van Dijk 26, D'Ambrosio 44, Gordon 71, Guarin 78, Bitton 80, Matthews 86, Commons 90+3.
Sent off: van Dijk 36 (second bookable offence).
Added time: 2 + 3 mins.
Referee: Kruzliak.
Assistants: Somolani, Mokos.
Fourth official: Brendza.
Additional assistants: Trutz, Kralovic.
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
LE PAROLE DI MANCINI POST INTER CELTIC
