Inter Milan Shut Down Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0, Dumfries Player of the Match

Karun Abraham

Sports Journalist

“Inter survived the early jolt, then sliced through with width, leadership, and ice-cold set-piece execution, four goals, three points, and a perfect European start intact.”

Shutdown for Union SG

Inter Milan cruised to a 4–0 win in Brussels, making it three wins from three in the Champions League League Phase and moving to nine points. The Nerazzurri hit the front through Denzel Dumfries (41’) and doubled it via Lautaro Martínez (45+1’) before Hakan Çalhanoğlu (53’ pen) and Francesco Pio Esposito (76’) completed a commanding away performance. Inter’s start-to-finish control keeps them perfect in Europe, meaning they remain level on points at the top of the section, behind PSG on goal difference.

First Half — Width, pressure, and two daggers before the break

Union SG began bravely and carved a couple of early looks, but once Inter settled, the visitors’ wide lanes took over. Dumfries repeatedly attacked the back post and was rewarded on 41’, turning in from close range for 0–1. Lautaro then struck in first-half stoppage time, rifling high into the top corner for 0–2 — a ruthless one-two that flipped the match state on its head before the interval.

Second Half — Penalty clarity, milestone moment

On 53’, a Kevin Mac Allister handball was penalised after Inter’s pressure forced a scramble; Çalhanoğlu converted emphatically for 0–3. Inter then managed the game with authority: compact without the ball, incisive when the counter was on. The night finished with a feel-good milestone when Francesco Pio Esposito — who had earlier missed a big chance — coolly tucked away his first Champions League goal on 76’ to seal 0–4.

Tactical Analysis

Inter Milan:

• Wing dominance: The wings was where the plan was set, high aggressive shot by Dumfires, then rotate to the opposite side for far post runs and cut backs, this was a classic example of weak side occupation.
• Set-piece & second-phase edge: This is where they shone, the six-yard lane had become a parking space for Inter with their consistent delivery and presence paying off during the key moments.
• Game-state control: When the score was 0-2 Inter was compressed in the middle third, their counters were heavy and left Union SG with no chance of scoring and the pressure only kept building.

Union SG:

• Front-foot start, fading grip: Early aggression and direct entries created half-chances, but once behind, the hosts were forced into wider routes and lower-value crosses that Inter’s first contacts cleared.
• Key turning point: The handball was the final nail in the coffin, from then on it was damage reduction and nothing else

Individual Performances

• Denzel Dumfries (Inter) — The Player of the match, his relentless struggle gave fruit for the opening goal for Inter Milan, which then opened the floodgates for the others.
• Lautaro Martínez (Inter) —After pressing tirelessly he lengthened the gap even further by making the score 0-3.
• Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter) — Midfield maestro, the game was moving to his metronome and made the score 0-3.
• Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter) — Though he had a miss early in the game, his 76’ goal redeemed him, making it his first UCL goal and closing Union SG's chances.
• Kevin Mac Allister (Union SG) —  Even after the handball incident did not lose hope and was relentless against Inter Milan

Aftermath & Implications

Inter leave Brussels with maximum points and another clean sheet, reinforcing a clear European identity: dominate the wings, control set pieces, and manage game state. They sit on nine points from three and remain among the pace-setters in the League Phase standings. Inter has a Serie A fixture against Napoli on October 25th as next on their agenda. For those who wish to see this match in person, book your tickets via 1BoxOffice for the best seats at reasonable prices.

For Union SG, this is a second heavy defeat on the spin; sharpening penalty-area defending and controlling wide-to-far-post actions will be top of the corrective list. Next on their agenda is a Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid on November 4th. For fans who want to see their favourite team fight against the giants of Spain book your tickets via 1BoxOffice for the best seats and a great support team from start to finish.