Inter Milan Women Reclaim Pride Against Wolfsburg in Champions League Qualifier
Inter Milan Women saw off Wolfsburg Women 2-0 at Stadio Breda on Tuesday evening in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League. The result turned things around for the hosts after they had fallen 0-2 to their German opponents just days earlier on August 26th. Elisa Bartoli opened the scoring before half-time and Elisa Polli sealed the victory late on, sending Inter through with momentum heading into the next stage.
Bartoli found space in the box around the thirty-ninth minute to fire home, giving Inter a cushion before the break. By then the home side had been the more dangerous outfit, pressing forward with purpose and creating something of a gap in opportunity. Wolfsburg tried to respond after the restart but couldn't find the same rhythm, and Inter's confidence grew with every passing minute.
Polli made it two in the eighty-fourth minute, tapping in to put the result beyond doubt. The Germans had pulled one back in their previous meeting but this time Inter held firm, not allowing any late drama to creep in. There were plenty of changes from both managers as the game wore on, with substitutions coming at regular intervals to freshen up the legs.
Inter dominated possession at sixty percent and registered more attacks overall, 107 to 83, though Wolfsburg did manage to get four shots on target themselves. The hosts had ten corners to six and kept their shots on target at four, meaning they were clinical when it mattered. Wolfsburg's attacking output didn't quite match Inter's intensity, and their three shots on target came in spells where Inter were vulnerable.
The win brings Inter one step closer to the group stages and gives them a psychological edge over their German opponents. They had looked shell-shocked after that 2-0 defeat in late August, but this performance showed they hadn't forgotten how to win. Wolfsburg will need to regroup quickly if they want to stay in contention, while Inter can now look forward with some belief rather than doubt.