Inter Milan suffered a late defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League after a controversial penalty decision in the 88th minute. Captain Lautaro Martinez described the call as an injustice, arguing that penalizing every shirt pull would make football unplayable. The incident involved defender Alessandro Bastoni holding Liverpool substitute Florian Wirtz in the box, leading to Dominik Szoboszlai's winning penalty.
Inter Milan hosted Liverpool at the San Siro in Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League, a match that swung in Liverpool's favor due to a contentious late call. The game was tightly contested, with both teams showing tactical discipline. Liverpool's midfield setup featured Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Alexis Mac Allister, creating a 4v3 advantage in the center. Gravenberch screened the defense effectively, forming a defensive triangle that limited Inter's front two.
Inter's center-backs, including Manuel Akanji, were active in ball progression, with Akanji completing 24 carries into midfield. Coach Christian Chivu noted their success in playing out from the back during the first half. However, Liverpool adjusted in the second half, shifting to a high press in a 4-4-2 shape, doubling their high ball recoveries compared to the first period.
The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when referee Felix Zwayer initially allowed play to continue after Bastoni's challenge on Wirtz. VAR prompted a review, and Zwayer awarded the penalty, which Szoboszlai converted for the victory. Substitutes Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz contributed to Liverpool's late push.
Martinez expressed frustration post-match to Gazzetta dello Sport: "We are disappointed but not angry. Because if you lose due to a referee's mistake, there is little you can do. We are sorry to have thrown everything away because of an injustice: if they were to whistle for penalties for every hold, we would never play."
Despite the loss, Inter remain competitive, sitting one point behind AC Milan and Napoli in Serie A and vying for a top-eight Champions League spot. Martinez affirmed the team's ambition: "I don't choose. I want to go to the end in all competitions, just as we have done in recent years." The result highlights ongoing debates about VAR interventions in physical duels.
