Robespierre delivers twice as Inter edge Dortmund
Two goals from the right-back settled a tight Champions League tie in Inter's favour, leaving Dortmund to rue missed chances.
“He was everywhere tonight,” said Inter captain Fernando Córdoba, still catching his breath. “Robespierre, two goals – from right-back. That is why we win.”
Robespierre's brace, one either side of Jules Luvovadio's equaliser, gave FC Internazionale Milano a 2-1 victory at BVB Stadion Dortmund, a result that had looked unlikely for long stretches of a match Dortmund controlled in spells but failed to finish.
The preview had flagged tired legs and old ties, and both were visible. Dortmund, without injured regulars Jacob Fuglevik and Saulius Steponavičius, started in their familiar 4-2-3-1, while Inter switched from their usual shape to a flat 4-4-2 – a concession to Dortmund's wing play, perhaps, but one that left space for Robespierre to push on from right-back.
He opened the scoring in the 39th minute, arriving late at the far post to sweep in a low cross from the left. Dortmund's response was swift and deserved: Luvovadio, moved from attacking midfield to striker during the game, headed in Marvin Kiala's cross five minutes before the break.
The second half was a different contest. Dortmund pushed high, winning corner after corner – 11 in all – but Inter's goalkeeper Fernando Córdoba made nine saves, several of them excellent, to keep his side level. Then, in the 64th minute, Robespierre struck again, this time cutting inside from the right and curling a shot into the far corner.
Dortmund pressed for an equaliser, with Kiala a constant threat down the right, but Inter's defence, reorganised after Rio Supriyadi's introduction, held firm. The home side finished with 15 shots and 1.74 expected goals, but only Luvovadio's goal to show for it.
The preview had expected Dortmund's shape to stay constant and Inter's to be flexible; in the end, Inter's change worked – just. Dortmund's tiredness showed in the final minutes, as Inter closed out the game with relative comfort.
The result leaves Inter with a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg, and Dortmund with work to do. For Robespierre, a right-back with two goals on the night, it was the kind of performance that decides ties.