Real Sociedad 1-1 Internazionale – Lautaro Martinez leveller rescues point for sloppy Inter away in San Sebastian

Lautaro Martinez broke Real Sociedad’s hearts, as his last-gasp strike earned Inter Milan a 1-1 draw in their opening UEFA Champions League group game.

The Nerazzurri failed to land a single shot on target until grabbing their equaliser in the 87th minute, with a lacklustre display at both ends meaning they were lucky to escape with a point.

The hosts could barely have dreamed of a better start, rattling the post through Ander Barrenetxea on three minutes, only to take the lead 60 seconds later when Brais Mendez capitalised on an error by Alessandro Bastoni.

The game soon settled down after that, but the Spaniards started to turn the screw again just before the break, with Robin Le Normand failing to hit the target with a close range header and Take Kubo having an effort saved.

Inter were grateful to get to half-time just one goal behind, but that advantage for the home side should have been stretched shortly after the restart when Mikel Oyarzabal had a point-blank range header superbly saved by Yann Sommer.

The Italians received a let off when a red card brandished at Nicolo Barella was rescinded, and after Mikel Merino had hit the bar for the hosts, Martinez equalised with just three minutes remaining to grab a thoroughly undeserved point.

Inter Milan, with three European Cups to their name, surprised everyone when they reached the final last year, eventually losing to Manchester City.

Based on this showing, though, it will take something remarkable for them to get back to that stage this year, after an insipid and toothless display in which they scraped their way to a stalemate.

What is most surprising is Simeone Inzaghi’s side haven’t struggled domestically, winning each of their four league games and scoring 13 goals in the process, but they offered nothing going forward until very late in this game, and looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back.

Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad). The 21-year old was only on the field for an hour, but carried such an attacking threat that it’s impossible to overlook his impact.

The forward caused the Inter Milan defence no end of problems, with his pace and trickery a deadly combination down the left wing.

He was unlucky not to grab himself an assist or a goal through his crossing and finishing, but once again won many plaudits for a thoroughly impressive display that showed why he’s turned heads across Europe.

REAL SOCIEDAD: Remiro 6; Traore 7, Zubeldia 7, Le Normand 8, Tierney 7; Mendez 8, Zubimendi 7, Merino 7, Barrenetxea 8; Kubo 7, Oyarzabal 7. Subs: Aihen 6, Cho 6, Odriozola 6, Sadiq 6, Pacheco n/a

INTER MILAN: Sommer 7; Bastoni 5, De Vrij 6, Pavard 6; Dumfries 6, Barella 4, Asllani 5, Mkhitaryan 5, Augusto 6; Martinez 6, Arnautovic 5. Subs: Thuram 6, Frattesi 6, Dimarco 5, Sanchez 6, Acerbi n/a

3’ OFF THE POST! More brilliant, twinkling feet from Barrenetxea, who gets into the area and thumps a shot goalwards, only for it to hammer against the post

4’ GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 1-0 INTER MILAN (Brais Mendez). The Inter defence are all over the place! They try and play the ball out of the back but Alessandro Bastoni makes a complete mess of it, gets dispossessed and Mendez is through on goal. All he has to do is beat Yann Sommer, which he does in comprehensive fashion

41’ GLARING MISS FROM LE NORMAND. What a huge chance that is for Sociedad to double their lead. Takefusa Kubo gets on the outside of the defender and bends a brilliant cross in towards a stretching Robin Le Normand at the back post, but the ball skims high and wide off his head

48’ WHAT A SAVE! That is a stunning stop from Sommer! A corner into the box is flicked onto Oyarzabal at the back post. He’s in acres of space and only yards out and has to score, but the ‘keeper somehow palms the ball away at point-blank range!

68’ RED CARD OVERTURNED! Barella is shown a straight red card for what looks like a stamp on Mendez, but VAR ask Michael Oliver to have another look at it. You can see why it’s been given. Barella’s leg gets stuck between Mendez’s legs and from one angle, the one the referee originally had, it looks like a stamp. From others, it doesn’t. Sending off rescinded – Barella stays on

69’ MERINO HITS THE BAR. A brilliant corner from the Sociedad left comes into the box and flashes off Merino’s head, only to brush the bar

79’ GOAL RULED OUT. Out of nowhere, Inter Milan burst forward and Thuram puts the ball in the back of the net, but he’s flagged offside, much to Real Sociedad’s relief

87’ GOAL! REAL SOCIEDAD 1-1 INTER MILAN (Lautaro Martinez). And just like that, out of nowhere, Inter are level. The pressure pays off as Sociedad have three or four opportunities to clear the ball but fail to do so. A terrific pass to the back post then finds Martinez, who brilliantly converts into the roof of the net past the onrushing goalkeeper

• This was Real Sociedad’s third 1-1 draw in six outings this season, having scored first in each of those games
• Inter Milan are now without a win in their last ten away fixtures against Spanish opposition