Antonio Candreva’s scorching strike and two goal-line clearances allowed 10-man Inter to beat Southampton 1-0.

Follow all the action as it happens and give your views from all four Italian teams in Europe today with the LIVEBLOG.

Antonio Candreva’s scorching strike and two goal-line clearances allowed 10-man Inter to beat Southampton 1-0.

Follow all the action as it happens and give your views from all four Italian teams in Europe today with the LIVEBLOG.

The Nerazzurri were in crisis, losing both their Europa League fixtures and 2-1 at home to newly-promoted Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday, while the ultras continued to protest captain Icardi over an offensive chapter in his autobiography and Coach Frank de Boer was in the balance. Joao Mario, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Gabigol and Stevan Jovetic are not on the UEFA squad list, joined by injured Felipe Melo and suspended Andrea Ranocchia. Marcelo Brozovic made his first appearance over a month after being frozen out by De Boer.

Southampton missed Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Redmond and Cedric for their first ever meeting with Inter.

Icardi pounced on a poor Cocu Martina back-pass in the opening three minutes, but couldn’t score from a tight angle. Jay Rodriguez also failed to make the most of a Joao Miranda error, as the defender got back to make up for it with a block.

De Vrij was totally unmarked on a free kick, but just failed to get his foot to the ball. The Saints went even closer on the counter from a Brozovic free kick, as Handanovic was beaten by a ricochet off Rodriguez and Yuto Nagatomo performed a goal-line clearance.

Ward-Prowse blasted just over from the edge of the box and Martina’s cross-shot flashed across the face of goal.

When Eder did go on the counter in a dangerous position, there was nobody to cross to in the box.

Shane Long flicked on a cross and Rodriguez came sliding in at the back post, just unable to get the tap-in.

Eder drilled just wide of the near stick from the edge of the area. Long was forced off by a muscular injury straight after the restart and Rodriguez had the ball in the net from a corner only after the whistle had been blown for a foul.

Inter’s first real chance was on 53 minutes, Assane Gnoukouri and Eder finding Icardi only to blast over from 10 yards.

Charlie Austin’s effort skimmed the upright and Icardi had another counter blocked by Van Dijk.

The Nerazzurri took the lead with a well-worked move, as Davide Santon pulled back low from the left and Candreva absolutely smashed his first time finish into the near top corner from 12 yards. It was an unstoppable strike.

Inter suddenly had more confidence, as Icardi squirmed away from two defenders only to see his shot blocked by a third at the near post.

However, Brozovic clattered into Hojbjerg for a second bookable offence and reduced Inter to 10 men for the last 13 minutes.

Samir Handanovic had to perform a stunning reaction save with his trailing hand on Van Dijk’s volley, as he was totally unmarked on a free kick from eight yards.

Southampton poured forward in the closing stages, as Van Dijk had another great chance from a corner, once more denied by Nagatomo on the line. As the move continued, Handanovic threw himself at Charlie Austin’s shot from point-blank range with an amazing save.

The Saints kept going to the final whistle, Ward-Prowse curling just wide from the edge of the box.

Inter 1-0 Southampton

Candreva 70 (I)

Inter:Handanovic Nagatomo (D’Ambrosio 91), Miranda, Murillo, Santon; Gnoukouri, Medel, Brozovic; Candreva (Ansaldi 80), Icardi, Eder (Perisic 86)

Southampton:Forster; Martina, Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen; Hojberg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Tadic (Boufal 73); Long (Austin 48), Rodriguez (S Davis 78)

Ref: Mazeika (LTU)

Sent off: Brozovic 77 (I)

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