The match against Shakhtar Donetsk delivered one of the clearest turning points of the evening: Martinez, previously singled out as the main culprit for the defeats against Real and Bruges, turned into one of the positive protagonists of the match. His saves in the final minutes helped change the face of a game that was anything but straightforward.
Before Bastoni‘s red card, Inter had not convinced. According to Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri appeared fearful, affected by their European struggles and more focused on not conceding a goal than on seeking an advantage. An attitude that the newspaper describes as “almost unprecedented” for Chivu‘s team.
“Precisely at the most difficult moment, the Nerazzurri found the clarity and courage that had previously been lacking,” writes Corriere dello Sport. The coach, for his part, managed the emergency well with substitutions and by reshaping the tactical setup after the sending off.
In the end, however, it was Martinez who stole the show: the Spaniard, already at the center of criticism for his recent European performances, ended the evening as one of the most praised figures in the sports newspapers.
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