Romelu Lukaku scored a late equaliser as he scored for the ninth consecutive game in European matches as Inter Milan drew against Borussia Moenchengladbach in their UEFA Champions League opener. However, many players in the Inter Milan squad have tested positive for the coronavirus, including Achraf Hakimi, Ashley Young, Milan Skriniar, Roberto Gagliardini and Ionut Radu.
Romelu Lukaku scored a late equalizer with his second goal of the game to give a coronavirus-affected Inter Milan team a 2-2 draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach in their UEFA Champions League opener. Ramy Bensebaini converted a penalty for Gladbach and Jonas Hofmann also scored for the German side before Lukaku's last-minute equalizer on Wednesday. In the other Group B match, Real Madrid fell to a surprising 3-2 loss at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.
In Milan, it was the first match between the former heavyweights in more than 40 years. The German side overcame Inter on its way to winning the UEFA Cup in 1979. The Inter squad had been hard hit by the coronavirus. Full-back Achraf Hakimi tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Teammates Ashley Young, Milan Skriniar, Roberto Gagliardini and Ionut Radu were also out with the virus but Alessandro Bastoni and Radja Nainggolan had tested negative and were on the bench. Lukaku almost gave Inter the lead shortly before halftime but he fired narrowly wide of the left post.
Belgium forward did break the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Matteo Darmian's shot was blocked and fell into the path of Lukaku, who rifled it into the back of the net. Lukaku has now scored in nine successive European matches after he propelled Inter to the Europa League final last season.
Grit showed by Gladbach
However, Gladbach levelled shortly after the hour when Arturo Vidal tripped Marcus Thuram in the penalty area and the referee awarded a spot-kick after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Bensebaini fired the penalty into the bottom right corner.
Inter almost took the lead in stunning fashion eight minutes from time but Lautaro Martinez's swivelled volley crashed off the right post.
Instead, it was Gladbach which went in front two minutes later as Florian Neuhaus threaded a through-ball to release Hofmann one on one with Samir Handanovic, and the midfielder scored between the goalkeeper's legs. There was a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside before the goal was awarded. Inter fought back in the final minute as Bastoni headed on a corner from the right and Lukaku prodded in at the far post.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Romelu Lukaku UEFA")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}