AN INJURY-TIME equaliser from Nicolo Barella denied Slavia Prague a famous Champions League win over Inter at San Siro on Tuesday.
The champions of the Czech Republic were not expected to escape from a daunting Group F that also contains Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona but looked on course for a deserved victory in Milan through Peter Olayinka.
Slavia could have added to their tally and were punished in second-half stoppage time, as Barella’s shot bounced through a crowded box and into the left-hand corner to ensure the game finished 1-1.
Inter started slowly until Stefan de Vrij headed over when unmarked six yards out, before Lautaro Martinez fired narrowly wide.
Danilo D’Ambrosio’s header was denied by Ondrej Kolar, who was then lucky not to give away a goal as he made a mess of an attempted clearance but Inter were largely lifeless in the first half.
Kolar had to react smartly to stop Stefano Sensi’s cross creeping in and then keep out Martinez’s rebound, before Kwadwo Asamoah avoided a red card following a VAR review for a foul on Ibrahim Benjamin Traore, who had to be substituted.
It was his replacement, Jaroslav Zeleny, whose first-time shot was superbly saved by Samir Handanovic only for Olayinka to pounce and turn the ball high into the net to give Slavia their shock lead.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, Slavia continued pressing high and should have scored a second through Lukas Masopust, who blazed over the bar from the edge of the box.
It was substitute Barella who rescued a result for Antonio Conte’s side, his half-volley finding a way into the net after Sensi’s free-kick had crashed off the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Memphis Depay’s penalty saw Lyon come from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Zenit in the other early Champions League kick-off.
Zenit scored the first goal of the group stage through Sardar Azmoun but Lyon hit back six minutes into the second half with a penalty earned and scored by Depay.
Both teams pushed for victory in Tuesday’s Group G game but were unable to find a late breakthrough.
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