In a tightly contested friendly match at Stamford Bridge, Inter Milan and Chelsea played to a 1-1 draw, with Marcus Thuram scoring a gem of a goal for the Italian side before a late equalizer from Ugochukwu. This match served as the final warm-up for Inter ahead of their Serie A opener, while Chelsea prepared for the new Premier League season under Maresca.
Thuram’s impressive performance, highlighted by his goal, is a positive takeaway for Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, especially following a disappointing defeat to Al Ittihad in their last outing. Despite missing key players like Lautaro Martínez and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Inter held their own against Chelsea, who created several chances throughout the match. However, goalkeeper Yann Sommer made three fantastic saves to keep the English side at bay for most of the game until the late equalizer.
The match started with Chelsea dominating possession, employing a 4-1-4-1 formation that put pressure on Inter’s defense. Enzo Fernandez, positioned high in the midfield, often forced Bisseck to track him, leading to early opportunities for Chelsea. The first significant chance came in the 9th minute when Fernandez set up Dewsbury-Hall, who assisted Guiu, but Sommer reacted quickly to deny the effort.
As the first half progressed, Inter found their rhythm. A turning point arrived in the 25th minute when Bisseck made a brilliant run through Chelsea’s defense, providing an assist for Thuram. The Frenchman showed great composure in controlling the ball and finding the back of the net, giving Inter a 1-0 lead. Following the goal, Chelsea struggled to regain control, with Dimarco nearly scoring again for Inter, but his header was off target.
As the match intensified, both sides saw players booked for unsporting behavior. Just before halftime, Chelsea ramped up their attacking efforts, but Sommer continued to shine in goal, making a stunning save from Guiu’s effort.
In the second half, Maresca made multiple substitutions, bringing on Palmer to bolster Chelsea’s offense. Inter still posed a threat, and Dimarco came close to doubling their lead early in the half, but Chelsea’s defenses held firm. Sommer was again called into action, tipping over a spectacular overhead kick from Nkunku.
Despite their missed opportunities, Chelsea persisted. After a series of attacking plays, they were finally rewarded in injury time when Ugochukwu found the net from a corner kick scramble, leveling the score at 1-1.
As the match drew to a close, both managers were seen chatting amiably on the sidelines, indicating that the focus now shifts to the upcoming league seasons. While the draw was not the desired outcome for Inter, they can look forward to the league campaign with renewed confidence and some crucial lessons learned from their battle with Chelsea.