Real Sociedad holds Inter to goalless draw to secure historic top spot

The LaLiga side finished on 12 points, the same as Inter, but advanced as group winner on goal difference.

Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni fights for the ball with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal. | Photo Credit: AP

Real Sociedad held Inter Milan to a goalless draw on Tuesday to secure the top spot in Champions League Group D, and progress to the knockout stages as leader for the first time.

The LaLiga side arrived unbeaten at the San Siro stadium and assured of a place in the last 16. It finished on 12 points, the same as Inter, which took second place on goal difference.

“This is sheer joy. You only have to look at all the fans that have come here,” Real midfielder Martin Zubimendi told Movistar.

“At the beginning, this objective (winning the group) was a bit complicated but once we got going we achieved it. It’s incredible.”

Real dominated possession throughout an unexciting first half where itfailed to record a single shot on goal. Inter had started with a counter-attacking game but squandered the single chance to open the scoring just before the break.

Simone Inzaghi’s side looked more dangerous in the second half as Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martinez came on to the pitch, but the Argentine was unable to capitalise on his chances in the box.

“We knew we had to play a slow game, with a lot of possession. We managed to do that, especially in the first half, but we had to always be careful with the counter-attacks because one-on-one they have some lethal players,” added Zubimendi, who was named man of the match.

The Basques thought they were on course for victory with a penalty that was eventually disallowed by the VAR, while Takefusa Kubo was booked for simulating a foul in the box 15 minutes from time.

“We knew that second place would make for a tougher draw, but I don’t want to see sad faces, I only want to see smiles as we finished the group unbeaten,” Inter manager Inzaghi told Mediaset and Sky Sport Italia.

“We are in the round of 16 for the third year running. We are very satisfied. We wanted another win in front of our fans, we tried until the 95th minute. We’ll see what the draw has to say. We finished second in the group last season and reached the final, after all,” he said.

The round-of-16 draw will be made on Monday. In the other Group D fixture, Portuguese champion Benfica snatched a 3-1 win over RB Salzburg to clinch third place with four points and progress to the Europa League knockout stage on goal difference.