Champions League | Inter 2-1 Kairat: Lautaro scrapes narrow victory

Lautaro Martinez and Carlos Augusto just about ensured Inter maintain their 100 per cent Champions League record, but it was harder than expected to beat Kairat.

The Nerazzurri had won all three games in Europe this season without conceding a goal and hosted the side from Kazakhstan who got their first point in a 0-0 draw with 10-man Pafos. Marcus Thuram was fit for the bench after more than a month out, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Matteo Darmian still injured, so there was some squad rotation in midfield. Kairat were without long-term absentees Joao Paulo and Elder Santana, plus captain Aleksandr Martynovich was not at 100 per cent.

This was a day of celebration because Inter and AC Milan finally signed the sale agreement to purchase the land around the stadium and begin building their new arena.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Inter had a huge double chance on 10 minutes, as Federico Dimarco’s angled drive stung the goalkeeper’s gloves, then the Lautaro Martinez follow-up was cleared off the line by Solokin.

They continued to dominate, but wasted opportunities, as Francesco Pio Esposito’s effort was deflected wide from six yards after another save on the captain, then Lautaro Martinez turned wide first-time from the edge of the box on a Piotr Zielinski assist.

Davide Frattesi had penalty appeals rejected when Arad seemed to clip his heel as he ran into the area. The situation was reversed moments later when the referee did point to the spot as Arad connected with Yann Bisseck, only to change his mind following the VAR review, as the Inter man ran into his opponent instead.

Kairat managed to threaten too with a towering Edmilson header on a corner testing Yann Sommer, then the goalkeeper was beaten as the Satpayev scorcher from distance took a deflection off Stefan De Vrij to clip the top of the crossbar.

However, Inter struck on the counter moments later, as after a mad scramble with Esposito and Lautaro Martinez efforts charged down from six yards, the captain finally bundled it over the line from close range.

Lautaro Martinez was rested for the second half and Pio Esposito thought he’d doubled Inter’s lead with a daisy-cutter from the edge of the area, but Anarbekov got down for a sensational one-handed save on the line.

Inter conceded their first Champions League goal of the season when a corner was not cleared, the defenders stood around and watched, as Ofri Arad reacted quickest to nod in the loose ball from eight yards.

Pio Esposito was denied one on one by the goalkeeper, but soon after the teenager proved decisive, as with his back to goal he laid it off for Carlos Augusto to smash home from the edge of the area.

Marcus Thuram made his comeback after that calf injury over a month ago and nodded a corner just wide.

Inter 2-1 Kairat

Lautaro Martinez 45 (I), Arad 55 (K), Carlos Augusto 67 (I)