Lovely sweeping move from Madrid. Valverde releases Vinicius and he squares for Rodrygo who hammers a ferocious shot past Handanovic. Out of nowhere really Madrid are ahead and Zidane will take that!
Madrid switch off for an instant and are punished. Ramos was out of position and left Lautaro to his own devices almost for the first time all evening and the striker nods across goal for Perisic, who shrugs off Vázquez and beats Courtois with a scuffed shot into the far corner.
Asensio appears to be running out of steam. The Spain winger is still not up to full match fitness and will probably be the first to be hooked, with Hazard not far behind we’d imagine. Vinicius and Rodrygo are readying to enter the fray.
Madrid are being pinned back now as Inter up the pressure in the opposition half. Mendy is floored as he tries to protect the ball to give the home side a breather.
Barella clips Hazard and immediately holds his hands up as the Belgian goes down rubbing his calf. A quiet half so far from the number seven, who Madrid had hoped would be the catalyst for an upturn in form. As it is, the old guard have provided the goals this evening.
Inter on the other hand are carrying out their plan of getting the ball wide as much as possible to run at the full backs and pull Madrid out of shape. They have had some joy but Vázquez and Mendy have been largely up to the task. The issue for Zidane is that there is no natural replacement for both on the bench beyond Marcelo and Castilla defender Santos. Vázquez will run all day but even he will tire around the 70-80 minute mark.
Probably not much for either coach to do at half time in terms of the chalkboard. Madrid look comfortable in possession and it took something very special from Barella to put Lautaro in. Sergio Ramos has been chaperoning the Argentinean throughout the half and has not ventured far from his striker’s side in a very mature performance so far.