Inter’s Defensive Breakdown Costs Them Against Club Brugge Despite Lautaro Martinez’s Brace

Inter Falls 3-4 to Club Brugge in Champions League Clash at San Siro

Inter suffered a painful 3-4 loss to Club Brugge at the Giuseppe Meazza, overshadowing a brilliant double from Lautaro Martinez. Although Inter dominated possession and outshot their opponents, their defense crumbled under pressure, allowing Nicolo Tresoldi to score a hat-trick and Romeo Vermant to net a late winner.

Match Summary

The match started cautiously with both sides feeling each other out. Club Brugge opened the scoring through a penalty by Tresoldi in the 30th minute. Inter responded just before halftime when Federico Dimarco assisted Lautaro Martinez, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite holding 53% possession in the first half, Inter struggled to stop Brugge’s quick transitions.

The second half turned chaotic for Inter. Tresoldi added two more goals in the 63rd and 74th minutes, both set up by Carlos Forbs, completing a stunning hat-trick and giving Brugge a 3-1 lead. Martinez sparked hope again with his second goal in the 81st minute, but Romeo Vermant’s strike in the 87th minute sealed the visitors' win. Substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny scored a consolation goal in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late as Inter’s defensive frailties were exposed and they remain pointless after two group games.

Player Ratings

• J. Martinez (Goalkeeper): 4/10 - Faced eight shots on target, saved four, but lacked control during frantic phases in the second half.
• Y. Bisseck: 5/10 - Showed some forward runs but was caught out of position on counters led by Forbs; physical presence wasn’t enough.
• M. Akanji: 4/10 - Struggled throughout, booked early and failed to track Tresoldi’s movement in key moments.
• A. Bastoni: 5/10 - Best defender going forward but often left exposed as Brugge targeted spaces behind wing-backs.
• F. Dimarco: 6/10 - Threatened going forward, assisted Martinez’s first goal but was weak defensively and replaced late.

• P. Zielinski: 5/10 - Efficient in possession but offered little defensive cover, allowing Brugge easy central access.
• A. Diouf: 5/10 - Energetic but tactically outmaneuvered by Brugge’s midfield, especially in shutting down Forbs.
• N. Barella: 6/10 - Fought hard and drove play vertically but was substituted as the coach searched for attacking options.
• H. Calhanoglu: 5/10 - Booked early, limiting his aggression; dangerous with set-pieces but withdrawn as the team fell behind.

• M. Thuram: 5/10 - Created space for Martinez but lacked sharpness in front of goal; replaced midway through the second half.
• L. Martinez: 8/10 - The standout player who scored twice, showing excellent finishing and leadership despite the team’s troubles.

Substitutes & Manager

• F. Esposito: 5/10 - Came on in the 67th but couldn’t influence the game amid the team’s collapsing shape.
• P. Sucic: 6/10 - Assisted Martinez’s second goal shortly after entering, displayed vision but couldn’t stabilize midfield.
• D. Spence: 5/10 - Brought on late to add width but had minimal impact against Brugge’s compact defense.
• A. Bonny: 7/10 - Injected energy off the bench, scoring a late goal that was merely a consolation.
• A. Stankovic: 6/10 - Assisted Bonny’s goal and showed calm composure in a chaotic finish.
• C. Chivu (Manager): 3/10 - Tactical approach failed, defensive organization was poor, allowing Brugge multiple clear chances.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Serie A: 17 Oct 2026, 19:00 vs BOL
• Cup Match: 17 Oct 2026, 21:45 vs LOK