Chivu stumbles in first match, Lautaro salvages a point after Sergio Ramos opens the scoring
On the fourth day of the Club World Cup, Inter made their debut in the tournament. In their first official match under Cristian Chivu, the Nerazzurri drew 1-1 against a gritty and well-organized Monterrey side—leaving behind the bitter feeling of a missed opportunity. Elsewhere, River Plate secured the top spot in Group E with a convincing 3-1 win over Urawa Reds. In the same group, a goalless draw between Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund temporarily handed the lead in Group F to Mamelodi Sundowns, who edged Ulsan Hyundai thanks to a goal from Rayners.
Results – Day Four
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Fluminense – Borussia Dortmund | 0-0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai – Mamelodi Sundowns | 0-1 |
| River Plate – Urawa Reds | 3-1 |
| Monterrey – Inter | 1-1 |
Monterrey – Inter 1-1: too much confusion, Chivu starts with a draw
A bittersweet debut for Cristian Chivu on the Inter bench, as his side was held to a 1-1 draw by Monterrey in their opening match in Group E. It was a game of two halves: bright and promising in the first, disorganized and lackluster in the second. After Sergio Ramos opened the scoring for the Mexicans with a trademark header, Lautaro Martinez equalized following a well-executed set-piece routine. Inter dominated for long stretches but wasted too many chances and nearly conceded a sucker-punch goal in stoppage time.
Both managers were making their debut, and their tactical choices heavily influenced the match. Chivu opted for a 3-5-2, while Monterrey sat deep in a compact 5-2-1-2, focusing on central pressure and pressing. After a promising first half featuring fluid attacking play and a nicely-worked free kick goal, Chivu made changes—bringing on Luis Henrique and Sucic—and switched to a 3-4-2-1, a move that backfired. The new setup only sowed confusion. Inter came close to scoring again through Lautaro and Barella but ran out of steam late on, allowing Monterrey several counterattacks and narrowly avoiding a loss after a crucial error by Sucic in added time.
Inter showed glimpses of quality but remains far from a cohesive unit. The connection between Lautaro and the new arrivals still needs work. In midfield, Barella showed signs of fatigue, while the left flank with Carlos Augusto was the most effective area. Chivu has introduced fresh ideas but must now find greater balance.
Post-match quotes:
Chivu: “We lacked clarity. We had the chances to win, but we need to improve how we manage different phases of the game.”
Lautaro Martinez: “We’re not satisfied, we wanted to win. But it’s just the beginning—we have to keep working on this new system.”
Sergio Ramos: “We knew suffering was part of the plan. The goal? Just experience, and the trust of my teammates.”
📋 Match Summary: Monterrey – Inter 1-1
Scorers: 25′ Sergio Ramos (M), 42′ Lautaro Martinez (I)
Booked: Rodriguez (M), Asllani, Barella, Lautaro (I)
MONTERREY (5-2-1-2): Andrada 6.5; Medina 6, Guzman 6.5, S. Ramos 7.5, Arteaga 5.5; Torres 6 (58′ Deossa 7), Rodriguez 5; Canales 7 (89′ Cortizo N/A); Chavez 6 (58′ Aguirre 6), Berterame 5.5 (78′ Ambriz 6), Ocampos 6 (89′ Rojas N/A). Coach: Torrent
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer 5.5; Pavard 6 (58′ Luis Henrique 5.5), Acerbi 5, Bastoni 6; Darmian 5.5, Barella 5, Asllani 6 (68′ Sucic), Mkhitaryan 6 (77′ Zalewski 6), Carlos Augusto 7 (68′ Dimarco 5.5); Esposito 6.5 (58′ Thuram 5.5), Lautaro 6. Coach: Chivu
Fluminense – Borussia Dortmund 0-0: Brazilian dominance goes unrewarded
Chances, tempo, pressure: Fluminense dominated for large portions of the match but were wasteful in front of goal. The 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund was a bitter pill for the Brazilians, who controlled the game from start to finish but were denied by a superb Kobel and poor finishing. The Germans, sluggish after a month without competitive play, offered little aside from Brandt and Gittens and failed to trouble Fabio. Arias stood out for the Flu, but missed chances from Everaldo, Nonato, and Canobbio kept them stuck on one point.
From a tactical standpoint, Portaluppi’s attacking 4-2-3-1 pinned Dortmund in their own half, but the German defense held firm—helped by the Brazilians’ inefficiency in front of goal. Strong outing from young Martinelli in midfield, while Guirassy was often isolated and uninvolved.
Ulsan Hyundai – Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1: Rayners puts Group F in South African hands
In a deserted stadium due to tornado warnings, Mamelodi Sundowns grabbed three vital points with a 1-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai. A first-half poacher’s goal by Rayners was enough to down the passive South Koreans, who failed to mount a response in the second half. The South Africans controlled the tempo, dominated possession, and even had chances to double their lead. With this result, they now top Group F.
Tactically, Sundowns’ 4-3-3 once again proved effective: smooth ball circulation, dynamic wide play, and solid defensive shape. Ulsan were flat, short on ideas, and lacking energy.
River Plate – Urawa Reds 3-1: headers, talent, and a warning for Inter
River Plate made a strong start in Inter’s group, defeating Urawa Reds 3-1 with all three goals coming via headers. Colidio opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Driussi added another early in the second half, and Meza sealed it late. Matsuo briefly gave the Japanese hope with a penalty to make it 2-1, but the Argentinians were clearly in control.
There was flair on the flanks and excellent midfield direction from the promising Mastantuono—Inter, beware. Gallardo deployed a fluid 4-3-3 system, emphasizing overlapping runs and central movement. Urawa struggled in aerial duels and failed to press effectively.
Provisional Standings – Club World Cup
Group E
| Team | Pts | GF | GA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Plate | 3 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
| Inter | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Monterrey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Urawa Reds | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 |
Group F
| Team | Pts | GF | GA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 3 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Fluminense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
