Inter Milan 2 - Villarreal 1

Inter: Toldo; Javier Zanetti, Córdoba, Samuel, Wome; Stankovic (Kily González 81'), Verón, Cambiasso, César (Materazzi 69'); Adriano, Recoba (Martins 28'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Sorín; Marcos Senna, César Arzo (Quique Alvarez 60'), Calleja (Cazorla 87'); Riquelme; José Marí (Guille Franco 76'), Diego Forlán. 4-3-1-2.

Goals:
0-1. 02. Diego Forlán. Following up after Toldo pushed out shot from José Marí.
1-1. 07. Adriano. Shot on turn under Viera after Peña failed to clear from Stankovic.
2-1. 54. Martins. Flung himself forward to turn Stankovic cross past Viera.

The match between Inter Milan and Villarreal is in the balance after the Italian side came from behind to run out 2-1 winners. Having won three out of three against opposition from the Calcio in Europe, Pellegrini's side were not overawed by the occasion. And in fact they caught their opponents sleeping with less than two minutes on the clock when they helped themselves to a vital away goal, Forlán beating Toldo after the keeper could only push out a shot from José Marí on a quick counter attack launched by Riquelme.

A couple of minutes later though an effort from Adriano was cleared off the line by Javi Venta, who had passed a late fitness test to play. And a makeshift defence, depleted by injuries and suspensions, let in the Brazilian striker to equalise soon afterwards, Peña making a hash of a clearance from Stankovic's cross allowing him to beat Viera with a shot on the turn.

Calleja and Forlán both tested Toldo with long shots, and Riquelme fired a low free kick just wide of the post. But otherwise the Italians were on top for the rest of the first half, Recoba causing problems for Viera with a bouncing shot, and Adriano heading wide and going close with a couple of dangerous free kicks.

Ten minutes in to the second half though the home side went ahead, substitute Martins flinging himself at Stankovic's cross to deflect the ball past the keeper, the French referee Alain Sars turning down Villarreal's appeals for offside.

Gonzalo Rodríguez blocked another effort from Martins a few minutes later, but the visitors could well have equalised before the end, firstly when Riquelme struck a free kick against the bar with the keeper beaten, and then when the referee turned down a late penalty appeal after Córdoba brought down Sorín. There are 90 minutes left to come in the Madrigal stadium though, and with the away goal in the bag the result was not so bad in the end for the plucky Spaniards.