Inter Milan kept their flawless start to the Champions League intact with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan’s debutants Kairat Almaty at the San Siro on Wednesday. A low, driven finish by Carlos Augusto in the 67th minute proved decisive as the Italian side notched a fourth win from four group matches.

On 12 points, Inter share the top of their group with Bayern Munich and Arsenal, placing them in a strong position to reach the last 16. Historically, 16 points is often enough to secure a top-two finish in the group, meaning a few more positive results from the remaining fixtures could confirm their passage to the knockout rounds.

The road ahead, however, is far from easy: Inter still face stern tests at home against Liverpool and leaders Arsenal, and will travel to Atletico Madrid later in the month.

Carlos Augusto reflected on the win, noting that the team did not produce its best football but managed to grind out the result and must continue to prove its quality each time they step onto the pitch.

Kairat’s resilience pushes Inter to the limit

Though Inter controlled much of the ball and created the clearer openings early on, they found it tough to penetrate a compact Kairat defence. Lautaro Martinez gave the hosts the lead just before the break, scoring his 160th goal for the club after following up on a blocked attempt to slot home.

Kairat responded with spirit after the interval. Ofri Arad rose powerfully to head home nine minutes into the second half, silencing the San Siro and briefly threatening a major upset. It was Carlos Augusto’s determined low drive that ultimately denied the Kazakh side their first-ever Champions League point on the road.

Visiting goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov stood out with a string of important saves, including a double stop to deny Martinez early on and a fingertip save to keep out Pio Esposito later in the contest.

Kairat sit just three points shy of the play-off places and still have fixtures against Copenhagen, Olympiakos and Club Brugge before a trip to face Arsenal in London. Their brave showing in Milan highlighted the character of a team fighting to make an impact in its maiden European campaign.

For Inter, there are lessons to take from a night when finishing and defensive focus needed sharpening. Their current form is encouraging, but the margin for error will shrink as the group stage heads toward its climax.