Champions League holders Inter Milan sent a message out to their rivals as they thumped Werder Bremen 4-0.
Italians lay down marker for Euro defence after striker's hat trick
UEFA Champions League holders Inter Milan sent a message out to their rivals as they thumped Werder Bremen 4-0 at Giuseppe Meazza.
The kings of Europe, under new management in the shape of Rafa Benitez, illustrated their credentials for this year's prize as they dispatched their German opponents to take top spot in Group A.
The Serie A giants had Samuel Eto'o to thank for their enjoyable night as the striker fired his first Champions League hat trick in over five years to give Benitez his first European win in charge of the Nerazzurri.
Wesley Sneijder also shone in Milan as he scored his second goal of the tournament to make sure the Italians sit top of the pile on goal difference, with Tottenham also matchday two winners after beating FC Twente 4-1 at White Hart Lane.
Shaky
Inter, who suffered their first defeat of the season at the weekend, looked shaky in the opening moments of their midweek European encounter.
Julio Cesar went for a walkabout in the second minute as he was lobbed by the in-form Hugo Almeida but defender Lucio managed to hook the ball away from goal before casting his team-mate an evil look of disapproval.
Cesar made amends two minutes later, however, as the Brazil international got down to his left to fist away Almeida's ferocious free-kick effort.
Benitez had given Champions League debuts to emerging talents Johnathan Biabiany and Coutinho and Inter's new boys combined in the seventh minute as to carved out the hosts first chance of the match but the latter fired his header wide.
Sneijder, who starred for Inter during their European triumph last term, was denied his second goal of the current campaign by a good save by Tim Wiese after a visionary pass from Coutinho in the ninth minute.
The treble-winning Italians continued to boss proceedings and in the 21st minute, Eto'o took advantage of a gift from Daniel Jensen to give the hosts the lead.
The Bremen midfielder had his pocket picked far too easily as Esteban Cambiasso's challenge allowed team-mate Eto'o free passage to the German side's goal and he made no mistake with the finish, slotting it through Wiese's legs.
Eto'o - who had scored six goals in as many games heading into Wednesday's fixture - was hungry to add to his tally and the former Barcelona marksman was made to wait only six minutes before securing his second of the night.
Eto'o beautifully claimed Lucio's long ball out of the air, leaving defender Sebastian Prodl in no-man's land and the Cameroon striker bagged his brace after sliding the ball past a helpless Wiese.
Rampant
Inter were rampant at this point and Stankovic's dipping curler forced a smart stop from Wiese on 32 minutes, although Bremen's custodian was powerless to stop Sneijder grabbing his second goal of the competition two minutes later.
Eto'o turned provider as he spotted Sneijder's clever run and he threaded a insightful pass through Bremen's rearguard before the Dutchman coolly slotted the ball over the onrushing Wiese.
The second half saw Inter bring on reserve goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi for Cesar in a bizarre substitution and the replacement shot-stopper was called into action seven minutes after the restart to save Wesley's low drive.
Inter lost Lucio to what appeared to be a knee injury just after the hour mark but the visitors failed to capitalise on the centre-back's absence as they posed no threat to Castellazzi's goal and the onus was on Inter to add to their three goal tally.
And the Italians' fourth came nine minutes before time as Eto'o scored only his second hat-trick in Europe's top competition as he rounded Wiese to slot home after Sneijder's defence-splitting pass.
Bremen had a late flurry with Hunt twice going close for the Germans but Castellazzi was on hand to deny the visitors a consolation goal.
| Internazionale |
Team Statistics |
SV Werder Bremen |
| 4 |
Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 9 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 6 |
Corners |
5 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 85.8 |
Passing Success |
79.7 |
| 13 |
Tackles |
38 |
| 84.6 |
Tackles Success |
68.4 |
| 55.8 |
Possession |
44.2 |
| 43.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
56.9 |
|
