Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad
Tune in for the exhilarating showdown between Inter Milan and Real Sociedad as they go head to head in an epic battle. Catch the full match replay and thrilling highlights to witness all the action. The game kicks off at 20:00 (GMT) on the 12th of December 2023. The referee for this intense match is S. Schärer, and it’s all happening at the electrifying Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Don’t miss this epic clash in the Europe – UEFA Champions League, Group D, Season 2023/2024. It’s a showdown you won’t want to miss!
Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad Full Match Reports
Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad orchestrated a strategic stalemate against Inter Milan in a hostile arena, securing the pinnacle of UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group D and extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to eight matches.
Real Sociedad, cognizant that a single point would propel them to the group’s zenith, embarked on their mission at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with a lucid and uncomplicated strategy — assert dominance over the ball as far up the pitch as possible. The execution of this plan was resoundingly successful, with Alguacil’s side commanding over 80% possession in a cautious first half-hour.
The game’s inertia was shattered just before halftime, courtesy of Marcus Thuram’s individual brilliance. A rapid counter-attack instigated by the Frenchman culminated in a goal-line block denying Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Thuram, a towering presence at 6ft 4in, continued to pose challenges in the second half, with his bicycle-kick attempt threatening to punish Sociedad’s lax attempts to build from the back.
Sociedad finally broke the deadlock after more than an hour, albeit the breakthrough was anticlimactic. Mikel Oyarzabal’s shot trickled harmlessly into Yann Sommer’s grasp. Takefusa Kubo injected a hint of incisiveness that Sociedad lacked, yet a VAR check exposed the Japanese player’s blatant dive, rescinding the initially awarded penalty.
Inter, having secured their knockout stage berth before kickoff, introduced the dynamic Lautaro Martínez in a late attempt to clinch victory. However, their endeavors fell agonizingly short, missing the opportunity to lead a UCL group for the first time in over a decade. Sociedad, brimming with confidence, heads into the upcoming clash with Real Betis, increasing their prospects of drawing a favorable last-16 opponent in Europe.
Man of the Match: Hamari Traoré (Real Sociedad).