A late Rodrigo Palacio strike earned Inter a 1-1 draw with Celtic in today’s pre-season friendly in Glasgow.
The Nerazzurri begin their campaign on August 2 with the first leg of the Europa League preliminary round against Hajduk Split, while Celtic also begin their SPL campaign next week.
A late Rodrigo Palacio strike earned Inter a 1-1 draw with Celtic in today’s pre-season friendly in Glasgow.
The Nerazzurri begin their campaign on August 2 with the first leg of the Europa League preliminary round against Hajduk Split, while Celtic also begin their SPL campaign next week.
Celtic had the brighter start and went close with Mulgrew’s header and a Samir Handanovic save on Stokes.
Inter’s first real danger came after half an hour when Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder combined for Philippe Coutinho to blast over the bar.
Just before the break Celtic got their deserved opener, as Mulgrew’s free kick found Kris Commons for a smart left-foot shot that looped over Handanovic.
In the second half Yuto Nagatomo took over at right-back, moving Javier Zanetti into midfield.
Sneijder, Milito and substitute Palacio had some lovely one-touch football and the move concluded with the Dutchman’s finish deflected out for a corner.
Cristian Chivu nodded over the bar and the goalkeeper closed down Milito, while there were penalty appeals for a last-ditch Irvine tackle on Esteban Cambiasso.
Commons had to leave the field due to an injury at the 82nd minute, so Celtic were forced to play with 10 men, as all their substitutions had already been completed.
Inter took advantage and poured forward. Milito went close from a long Fredy Guarin pass, but just failed to latch on, while Forster parried a Chivu left-foot screamer.
In the final minute the Nerazzurri snatched their equaliser at Celtic Park. Milito’s shot was parried, but put back into the middle by Livaja for Palacio to tap in.
Celtic 1-1 Inter
Scorers: Commons 41 (C), Palacio 89 (I)
Celtic: Forster; Matthews, Lustig (Irvine 65), Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley (F Twardzik 65), Samaras (McGeouch 74); Hooper (McCourt 65), Stokes (Bangura 36)
Inter: Handanovic; Zanetti, Chivu, Ranocchia, Silvestre (Mudingayi 51); Guarin, Cambiasso; Jonathan (Nagatomo 46), Sneijder (Livaja 76), Coutinho (Palacio 51); Milito