Inter Milan fans displayed a touching brilliance, singing "We will never leave you." In the 7th minute, Diego Milito received the ball on the left wing, feinted past the opposing defender Atsuto Uchida and entered the penalty area. After continuous movements, he sent a high ball, but Sneijder at the back post headed it over. In the 12th minute, after a tussle with Baum-John, Stankovic fell to the ground, and due to an excessive action, the Inter midfielder received the first yellow card of the match, indicating that the Serbian might have been injured during this tackle.
Stankovic scored for Inter within 27 seconds of the game starting but was then forced off injured. Both teams' defenses were fragile, with Matip, Milito, and Edu scoring in the first half. The second half saw a shift in momentum as Raul's goal put the visitors ahead, followed by consecutive setbacks for Inter: Ranocchia scored an own goal, Chivu accumulated two yellow cards and was sent off, and Edu's goal ultimately sealed the score at 2-5, leaving the defending champions with only a theoretical chance of advancing.
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Inter took the lead again in the 33rd minute. Zanetti passed the ball, Sneijder made a through pass to Cambiasso on the right flank, who headed it towards the center. Unmarked, Diego Milito tapped the ball in from two meters out with his left foot. Inter led 2-1! However, just six minutes later Schalke equalized. Baumjohn passed the ball, and Edu decisively shot from outside the box, forcing Cesar to dive and make a save. Before Ranocchia could block, Edu quickly tapped the ball into the empty net. The score became 2-2! Schalke resiliently leveled the score. By the 47th minute, Santini had the ball when Farfan was penalized for a foul behind, receiving a yellow card, meaning the Peruvian would miss the next match. Both teams ended the first half tied at 2-2.
Inter fans experienced a nightmare as their team surrendered 20 minutes early! The blue-black army's downfall equated to a collapse.
In the Champions League's top ten fastest goals, the quickest was in just 10 seconds.
Substitute: 33-Schoebel, 3-Escudero, 5-Plestan, 8-Hao Junmin, 13-Schmitz, 16-Karimi, 31-Draexler
In the 16th minute, Schalke earned a corner kick on the left side. Farfan delivered it, and Papadopoulos headed it powerfully, but Cesar made a heroic save. Matip, from four meters out, struck the ball home. 1-1, Inter had a major defensive oversight, allowing Schalke to gain a precious away goal and level the score. Two minutes later, after a long pass from Stankovic, Milito entered the box and fell under the defense of Uchida, but Inter's plea for a penalty went unanswered.
Starting lineups for both sides:
In the 86th minute, Karimi replaced Raul, and the home team, having expended too much energy in the derby, was unable to mount any effective counterattacks. Ultimately, Inter Milan suffered an unexpected 2-5 defeat at home against Schalke 04, leaving the defending champions on the brink of elimination with only a theoretical chance of advancing.
In the 20th minute, Mc孔 passed the ball, and Eto'o tapped it in, but the Cameroonian was offside. A minute later, Inter executed a brilliant combination play; Eto'o cleverly backheeled the ball, and Milito understood instantly, advancing and sending a low pass. Cambiasso let it go, but Stankovic at the back post had no room to shoot due to the defenders' blockage. Halja replaced Stankovic in the 2nd minute.
Reports claim Moratti berated the entire team after the game, with Italian media calling Inter's chances of a comeback a daydream.
At 2:45 AM Beijing time on April 6 (8:45 PM local time on April 5), a focal match of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals took place at the Meazza Stadium, where defending champions Inter Milan hosted Bundesliga powerhouse Schalke 04. Diego Milito, who had come on as a substitute in the previous weekend’s derby, returned to start alongside Eto'o, replacing Pazzini who was ineligible to play, while Stankovic started instead of Pandev, returning Inter's formation to a 4-3-1-2. For Schalke 04, Raul partnered with Edu up front, and Chinese player Hao Junmin was included in the visiting team's substitutes.
Previously, all encounters between the two teams in European competitions were in the UEFA Cup tournament. In the 1996-97 UEFA Cup final, each team won 1-0 in their respective home matches. In the penalty shootout, Lehmann helped Schalke triumph 4-1 over Inter to win the title. In the following 1997-98 season, the two teams met again, with Inter winning 1-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away, eliminating Schalke and successfully avenging their loss. Inter had won seven of their last eight Champions League home games, maintaining a 10-1-5 record against German teams in European competition at home. Schalke had only one victory in their last four trips to Italy.
In the 73rd minute, Farfan broke into the box and his shot was saved by Cesar. Facing an open goal, the Peruvian tried to score again but was blocked by Inter defenders. However, the home team couldn't escape their fate. Edu suddenly turned and struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the net. 2-5! Inter found themselves in dire straits. Leonardo subsequently substituted Yuto Nagatomo for Motta. In the 82nd minute, Hu Lado was replaced by Draexler. Raul then received a yellow card for a foul on Mc孔.
Substitutes: 12-Castellazzi, 17-Mariga, 23-Materazzi, 27-Pandev, 55-Yuto Nagatomo
Inter conceded 8 goals in 2 games, possibly signaling a season-ending collapse unless they address underlying issues. Coach Leonardo remains inexperienced.
In the 52nd minute, Raul helped Schalke take the lead away from home. Farfan made a clever through pass, and Raul received the ball on the right side of the box, bypassing Chivu, turning around, and decisively shooting despite Ranocchia's attempt to block. 2-3! Four minutes later, Inter conceded another goal. Hu Lado advanced deep into the box and sent a cross from the right flank, and Ranocchia accidentally scored an own goal while trying to block it. 2-4! Soon after, Inter had a scoring opportunity, but Eto'o's ambiguous pass-shot was missed by Milito at the back post. In the 59th minute, Sarpe received a yellow card for pulling down Milito.
In the second half, Inter immediately had several good chances to score. Sneijder made a long pass, and Milito advanced into the box from the left wing and shot wide. In the 47th minute, Inter created a beautiful combination inside the opponent's box. Sneijder initiated the attack, and the Cameroonian skillfully maneuvered past an opponent defender in the narrow space on the right side of the box before attempting a left-footed shot, which Neuer single-handedly deflected. In the 51st minute, Farfan advanced with the ball, and Chivu was shown a yellow card for a foul, missing the next game.
Inter faced another heavy blow in the 61st minute when Chivu received his second yellow card and was sent off. This marked the Romanian's second consecutive game being sent off, with Cordoba coming on to replace Halja. Inter's defense was now under immense pressure, with Zanetti heading clear a dangerous situation, and Hu Lado striking a cold shot from outside the box that hit the post. Subsequently, Papadopoulos fouled Sneijder and received a yellow card.
Leonardo admitted that Inter has no chance of a comeback, Mourinho expressed great disappointment. Raul's goal and Chivu's red card contributed to Schalke's impressive 5-2 away win over Inter.
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Goalkeeper showdown: Germany's goalkeeper triumphed. Despite being humiliated, Cesar still made six crucial saves.