The only representative of Italy in European competitions and the daring champion of Ukraine
If the Russian teams finished their performance in European competitions in December, then one Ukrainian representative continued the battle for the trophy until August. For the second time in history Donetsk Shakhtar reached the Europa League semifinals, where he was to face one of the main favorites of the tournament, Inter.
Both teams were relegated to the second most important European competition from the Champions League, but if the Pitmen drew once in five matches, the Nerazzurri won all four meetings and conceded only one goal. And the Belgian striker of the Italian team Romelu Lukaku chalked up four goals, having distinguished himself in each of the games played.
Bookmakers recognized Antonio Conte's wards as a clear favorite. So, one of the offices offered to bet on the victory of "Inter" in regular time with a coefficient of 1.60, and on the victory of "Shakhtar" - 5.25.
Despite this, the Ukrainian club believed in the ultimate success. For example, the general director of the 13-time champion of the country Sergei Palkin, on the eve of the meeting, said that Shakhtar show more spectacular football than Inter.
“The mood is great, the atmosphere is great. We are waiting for the match. We are calm. All teams that made it to the semi-finals are strong. We will have a tough fight tomorrow. But I assure you: it will be difficult both for us and for Inter, ”the club's official website quoted Palkin as saying.
In turn, Conte spoke of his opponent with great respect.
“We are playing with a team that has proven itself well over the past few years and is well prepared. Shakhtar is the strongest team we have ever played with in this Europa League. But we intend to show that it is not by chance that we reached the semifinals and we want to get to the final, ”Conte quoted the UEFA official website.
Despite the fact that Inter was considered the favorite of the match, Shakhtar were significantly higher in the UEFA rating. After a crushing victory over Basel in the quarterfinals (4: 1), the Ukrainian team moved up to 14th place, while the Italian was only 39th.
Pyatov's effective mistake and Shakhtar's pressure
The match started at a rather unhurried pace. The ball was owned by one or the other team. However, for a long time, it did not reach dangerous moments or shots on goal.
But then Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov made a gross mistake. Trying to transfer to a partner, he presented the ball to Nicolo Barella.
The opponent took advantage of the blot instantly. The midfielder threw the ball between the legs of Nikolai Matvienko, shifting to the right flank, and executed a perfect serve into the penalty area to Lautaro Martinez.
In turn, the Argentine outplayed his opponent in the air and struck an aimed blow with his head into the near corner without a chance for Pyatov. This goal was Martinez's debut in the current LE draw.
After such an unsuccessful start, Shakhtar had no choice but to go forward. The technical Brazilian footballers of the team took the ball under their control, and the whole team of Inter went into defense.
However, the Nerazzurri were always ready to organize a counterattack or put pressure on someone else's half of the field. So, in the 34th minute, Barella delivered a strong blow from the right corner of the penalty area under the crossbar of someone else's goal during a quick counter-blow, but Pyatov coped with the threat.
Shakhtar, on the other hand, continued to build up its advantage in possession, which reached 61% in the first half. Luis Manuel Ribeiro Castro's charges were actively changing positions, deceiving opponents, and included dribbling.
Closer to the break, the players of the Italian team began to accumulate fatigue, and the Nerazzurri pressed against their own penalty area. However, the Pitmen did not create a single dangerous chance. I remember only a kick above the gate at the very end of the first half, performed by Marcos Antonio. And they never hit the target.
One hit by the Pitmen on target and four unanswered goals by Inter
But the second half of the meeting turned out to be a frank failure for Shakhtar. If, before the break, the team at least had the ball, then after that it practically stopped approaching someone else's penalty area.
The Nerazzurri immediately created a couple of dangerous moments. At first, Martinez almost threw Pyatov over, but the experienced goalkeeper reached the ball at the last moment, and then Lukaku missed the target a little from the left corner of the penalty area.
In an attempt to improve the attacking game, Castro instead of the tired Alan Patrick released midfielder Manor Solomon on the field.
And then Shakhtar missed the last and only chance to level the score. Junior Moraes, after a serve from the left flank, outplayed his opponent in the air and delivered an aimed blow with his head, but hit Samir Handanovich in the leg.
And literally in the next attack, "Inter" earned a corner, which turned out to be fateful. After Marcelo Brozovic's serve, Danilo D'Ambrosio sent the ball into the far corner with his head.
Having conceded the second goal, Shakhtar openly quit playing and, as a result, was defeated. First the double was designed by Martinez. The Argentine, taking advantage of the gross mistake of Taras Stepanenko, struck from the penalty area close to the far post.
Then it was time for Lukaku. Scoring after an assist from Martinez, the Belgian updated his own record for the Europa League. He distinguished himself in the tenth match of the tournament in a row.
But Romelu didn't stop there. On the 83rd minute, the forward ran away from the defender and aimed the ball between Pyatov's legs into the goal. Thus, the forward has six goals in five matches of the current LE draw.
Inter became the first Italian team since 1999 to qualify for the UEFA Cup / Europa League final. 21 years ago Parma defeated Marseille in Luzhniki and won the trophy.
Conte wards in the fight for the victory in the LE on August 21 on Friday in Cologne will play with Sevilla.