Inter absolutely dominated Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova, with numerous chances on top of Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Skriniar and Alexis Sanchez goals, leapfrogging them into second place.
The Nerazzurri beat this side 3-1 at San Siro, the first defeat after the Moldovan debutants shocked both Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid. Arturo Vidal stepped in for Hakan Calhanoglu, with Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez leading the attack.
Alessandro Bastoni made a good interception on Cristiano’s cross from the left, while a well-worked early passing move broke down at Vidal’s roll across for Lautaro Martinez.
Edin Dzeko should’ve done better with a header wide at the back post on Federico Dimarco’s corner, then Lautaro Martinez was denied by what was practically a Cristiano goal-line clearance on another Dimarco set play.
Cristiano was decisive again moments later, his brave header preventing Lautaro Martinez from nodding in a yard out and Matteo Darmian’s follow-up wide.
Dzeko’s touch was a little heavy, allowing Giorgos Athanasiadis to make the save from point-blank range.
Lautaro Martinez was unfortunate on 40 minutes to see his long-range snapshot thump the far upright and bounce back out.
The deadlock was eventually broken when Vidal laid it off for Marcelo Brozovic on the edge of the area, who sent two defenders to ground with a dummy shifting the ball from left to his right foot, drilling into the near bottom corner. It was his first ever Champions League goal and he had to thank Barella too for diving out the way.
Inter made the domination count by doubling their lead on a corner. The goalkeeper did everything possible with a sensational save on the Stefan de Vrij header, and the initial Milan Skriniar attempt on the rebound, but the third was too much to deal with from a couple of yards.
Alexis Sanchez came off the bench and scored within 60 seconds, shrugging off Gustavo Dulanto to fire into the roof of the net. It was the Chilean’s first Champions League goal since February 2017.
With practically the last kick of the game, Sheriff got a consolation goal, as Adama Traore’s header on a free kick flicked the ball into the far top corner.
The result means Inter are now second in Group D behind Real Madrid’s nine points, rising to seven, leaving Sheriff behind on six.
Sheriff 1-3 Inter
Brozovic 54 (I), Skriniar 66 (I), Alexis Sanchez 82 (I), Traore 92 (S)