Inter’s terrible pre-season continued with a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, though Mauro Icardi hit the bar and forced a goalline clearance.
Inter’s terrible pre-season continued with a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, though Mauro Icardi hit the bar and forced a goalline clearance.
The Nerazzurri were looking for their first pre-season victory, as they only squeezed past Juventus” data-scaytid=”4″>Juventus on penalties, while Carlo Ancelotti’s Merengues were unbeaten over the summer. They met in St. Louis for the final match of their American tours.
Walter Samuel, Cristian Chivu, Mateo Kovacic, Diego Milito and Javier Zanetti were among those injured, so 19-year-old Patrick Olsen was given a chance in midfield.
It was a lively start with chances for both sides and Real took the lead. Kaka got between the defenders to shoot, forcing a miraculous one-handed save out of Samir Handanovic, but the goalkeeper could do nothing on the diving header follow-up.
Alvaro Pereira blocked a Cristiano Ronaldo tap-in practically on the line with a combination of arm and chest, but he was too close for it to be considered voluntary.
Alvaro Morata fired over from a very promising position when sent clear by a smart Casemiro chipped pass over the top.
Ronaldo was allowed a free header from a corner, which he turned wide, but the Portuguese talent did get his goal with a fierce angled drive after taking advantage of another defensive hesitation on the Luka Modric through ball.
Rodrigo Palacio tried to turn in the box, but was crowded out, then rolled it back to Olsen for a finish off target.
Palacio had a great chance within seconds of the restart, but only scuffed his volley. However, Jese Rodriguez went considerably closer as his strike rattled the crossbar with Handanovic beaten. The substitute threatened again on a slalom between four Inter players, but Andrea Ranocchia did just enough to block the shot.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic found space only to hit a weak effort straight at Diego Lopez. Palacio had a fantastic opportunity, chesting down a long Ranocchia pass to surprise Pepe only to fire just over the bar.
Inter were improving as time wore on and 19-year-old Olsen forced Diego Lopez to fly in order to palm his shot out from the near top corner.
Juan Pablo Carrizo came on and his first real intervention was a disaster, as he completely missed a corner and Ricky Alvarez turned into his own net when trying to anticipate Casemiro.
Alvarez tried to make up for the own goal with a wonderful solo run through three challenges, but Diego Lopez did brilliantly to parry with an outstretched foot from point-blank range. The Argentine tested the Madrid goalkeeper again with an angled drive moments later.
Mauro Icardi thought he had scored from a corner, but his bullet header was cleared off the line, then Hugo Campagnaro was unable to prod home the rebound.
Carrizo was at full stretch for a one-handed save on Morata’s angled drive, though Icardi was once again unlucky when his glancing header cracked against the crossbar.
Inter 0-3 Real Madrid
Scorers: Kaka 11 (RM), Ronaldo 38 (RM), Alvarez og 67 (RM)
Inter: Handanovic (Carrizo 65); Campagnaro, Ranocchia (Andreolli 82), Juan Jesus; Jonathan (Nagatomo 74), Cambiasso (Duncan 82), Kuzmanovic (Alvarez 59), Olsen (Mbaye 88), Pereira; Guarin (Belfodil 74); Palacio (Icardi 65)
Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Carvajal, Nacho (Casado 80), Sergio Ramos (Mateos 68), Arbeloa (Pepe 46); Casemiro, Modric (Khedira 46); Cristiano Ronaldo (Jese Rodriguez 46), Kaka, Di Maria; Morata