Inter vs. Trabzonspor: Nerazzuri Get Off to a Nightmare Start

Inter Milan’s Champions League campaign got off to the worse possible start last Wednesday with a home defeat to Trabzonspor. The Turkish side had already been eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-1 defeat by Benfica, but were given a lifeline after they were reinstated due to Fenerbahce’s match fixing scandal.

The 2010 treble winners were simply pathetic in this match and there is no other way to put it. Inter hardly created any clear-cut opportunities in the entire match and when they did they were foiled by the keeper, Tolga Zengin. The best two chances fell to Diego Milito, who had one chance denied at point blank range and then moments later headed wide from close range.

With the exception of those two chances Inter hardly did anything. It seemed as if the match was destined for a 0-0 draw, but then disaster struck for the home side. In the 76th minute, Halil Altintop found himself unmarked and blasted his shot off of the crossbar. The rebound fell to Ondrej Celustka who tucked a shot inside the far post to give the Turkish side the lead. That would turn out to be the only goal of the match and the visitors picked up a crucial three points to begin their campaign.

There were hardly positives to come from the match for Inter. The Nerazzuri may have taken their opponents lightly and expected to just turn up and play them off of the park. Whatever the case may be, Inter showed no desire or intensity at any stage of the match.

It was especially shocking how little fight Inter showed after Trabzonspor took the lead. They still had over 15 minutes to at least rescue a point and save themselves from an embarrassing home defeat. Instead, they capitulated and never seriously threatened with an equalizer. While it is still early in the season, Inter needs to start showing a better effort in both the Champions League and Serie A, otherwise the season may quickly be over for the Nerazzuri.