Martinez steals finalists Inter draw at Real Sociedad

BARCELONA: Lautaro Martinez struck late to snatch last season's Champions League runners-up Inter Milan a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Wednesday (Sep 20), denying the Spanish side a triumphant return to the competition after a decade away.

Brais Mendez's early goal split the sides in San Sebastian for most of the night but the hosts spurned several opportunities to build on their lead in an intense showing that left Simone Inzaghi's team bruised but not beaten.

The Basque side's performance was all the more notable given Inter's 5-1 derby thrashing of rivals AC Milan on Saturday which kept them top of Serie A.

Only Martinez's cool finish after 87 minutes rescued the Italian side from a setback at the start of their Champions League campaign.

"I'm not satisfied because we did not play as we planned," Martinez told Amazon Prime TV.

"We had a lot of troubles in the first half because we were facing a team who pressed us very high and we had difficulties to build from the back."

He continued: "We did not play well but it was important to avoid defeat at least because the group would have become more complicated."

Imanol Alguacil's Real Sociedad started out strongly, with Mendez drawing a save from Yann Sommer before Ander Barrenetxea hit the post in a frantic opening.

Real Sociedad may have waited 10 years to get back into the Champions League, but it only took them four minutes to go ahead.

The hosts pressed defender Alessandro Bastoni high to win the ball back on the edge of the box, with Mendez sweeping it home stylishly.

Inter managed to calm the game down but could not create dangerous openings of their own.

Robin Le Normand headed over before half-time when he might have doubled La Real's lead, and Sommer foiled Takefusa Kubo.

Int