Inter Milan lost points against Dynamo Kiev: 2-2

Inter twice came from behind as Tuesday's Champions League Matchday 3 clash against Dynamo Kiev at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ended in a 2-2 draw. But the Group F situation is evenly balanced with three matches left to play as defending European champions Barcelona lost 2-1 at home to Rubin Kazan.

Dynamo came out with all guns blazing and fired an early warning when Yarmolenko just failed to make contact with Milevskiy's flick from Magrao's corner. Gazzaev's men stepped up the pressure and took a fifth-minute lead through Mikhalik, who rifled past Julio Cesar after Milevskiy's free kick came off Stankovic.

Penned back for the opening fifteen minutes, Inter gradually settled but Dynamo went inches close to a second with Shevchenko heading wide after climbing above Maicon. Inter's leveller came from a counter-attack after Julio Cesar's punched clearance from Magrao's cross. Sneijder turned an opponent and played to Lucio who fed Stankovic and the Serbian slotted beyond the onrushing Bogush.

In his pre-match press conference Mourinho said a few moments are enough to go from heaven to hell in football and Lucio must have been thinking just that when he inadvertently headed Magrao's corner into his own net five minutes before the break. But the Brazilian's partner in defence Samuel grabbed a quick equaliser after half time, rising in the box to head Sneijder's corner kick into the top left corner.

Spaces opened up for both teams and mistakes abounded, and the result could have gone either way. Eto'o was narrowly beaten to Magrao's wayward back pass by Bogush, who made a point-blank save from the Cameroonian seconds later. At the other end, Lucio found himself in Purgatory after mis-timing his clearance but Inter were let off the hook as Shevchenko fired wide with just Julio Cesar to beat.

Suazo had an impact after coming on for Muntari at half time and with five minutes to go he missed from the close range after a storming run to the byline by Zanetti. The Honduran had a further chance from a tight angle before having a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time.

Inter 2-2 Dynamo Kiev (HT: 1-1)

Scorers: Mikhalik 5, Stankovic 35, Lucio (o.g.) 40, Samuel 47.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso (23 Materazzi 86), 11 Muntari (18 Suazo 46); 5 Stankovic (14 Vieira 86), 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto'o.

Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 30 Mancini, 39 Santon.

Coach: José Mourinho.

Dynamo Kiev: 31 Bogush; 11 Eremenko, 34 Khacheridi, 44 Almeida, 21 Magrao (3 Betao 71); 17 Mikhalik, 36 Ninkovic (20 Gusev 69), 5 Vukojevic, 70 Yarmolenko; 7 Shevchenko, 10 Milevskiy (22 Kravets 90+3).

Subs not used: 55 Rybka, 8 Aliyev, 20 Gusev, 25 Atanda, 79 Zozulia.

Coach: Valery Gazzaev.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (England).

Booked: Stankovic 23, Maicon 29, Almeida 31, Chivu 52, Shevchenko 61, Milevskiy 68, Vukojevic 82, Zanetti 83.

Inter Press

Barcelona UCL Group: European rivals up and running

Barca’s three rivals in the Group Stage of the UCL this season will all be going into the competition with more games under their belts than Guardiola’s team, with the Russian team Rubin Kazan actually reaching the end of their season.

When Barca visit Milan to take on Inter in 11 days time, they will have just played their second league game, away to Getafe, having already beaten Sporting in the league opener and taken the Spanish and European Super Cups in August. Their rivals have all had the benefit of a few more games and the Russians are almost at the end of their season.

Inter Milan

Barca’s first game in the Group Stage is in Milan and Inter have already played one more league game than their visitors, boasting a 0-4 win over Milan and a draw against Bari. Sampdoria lead the Scudetto with Inter lying fifth alongside Parma, who Mourinho’s team play the weekend before the clash with Barca.

Dinamo Kiev

On 29 September, Barca entertain Dynamo Kiev at the Nou Camp. The Ukranians top their league with 16 points, three more than Shaktar Donetsk, having won 5 of the six games played so far and drawn the other, scoring 24 goals and conceding just 4.

Rubin Kazan

The third Group Stage game will be against the Russian team Rubin Kazan. There are just 10 games to go in the Russian league and Rubin have a 4 point lead over second place Spartak Moscow, who beat them 0-3 in the last league game. Rubin have won 12 games, drawn 4 and lost 3 games in the league so far.

Sandra Sarmiento / FC Barcelona Press