UCL | Young Boys 0-1 Inter: Thuram to the rescue after Arnautovic penalty

epa11678623 YB’s goalkeeper David von Ballmoos (back) saves a penalty against Inter’s Marko Arnautovic (R) during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between BSC Young Boys and FC Inter, in Bern, Switzerland, 23 October 2024. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

Marko Arnautovic saw his penalty saved in Bern, but Marcus Thuram snatched a winner deep into stoppages to sink Young Boys and give Inter a precious Champions League victory.

The Nerazzurri won their last four competitive matches coming

, while their Champions League record was a 0-0 draw at Manchester City and 4-0 demolition of Crvena Zvezda. However, the absentee list included Hakan Calhanoglu, Kristjan Asllani and Francesco Acerbi, with Piotr Zielinski only fit for the bench, so Nicolò Barella had to be a makeshift playmaker. Young Boys lost 3-0 to Aston Villa and 5-0 in Barcelona, but did beat Galatasaray in both legs of the play-off. Miguel Chaiwa, Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer, Facinet Conte and Tanguy Zoukrou missed out.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

This game was played on an artificial turf and Jaouen Hadjam saw a strike from distance take a big deflection, forcing Yann Sommer to scramble across for the save.

Alan Viriginius was found for a header at the back post, the clearance made almost on the line by Benjamin Pavard before Sommer could reach it.

Inter did not learn that lesson and almost conceded with another header from the same position, this time Sommer palming away the Lukasz Lakomy diving header on Hadjam’s cross.

Joel Monteiro also saw his effort deflected over by Dumfries following a smart ball over the top, but Inter finally threatened on the half-hour when Yann Bisseck ran onto the Taremi back-heel flick and the goalkeeper desperately rushed out to parry.

There was a big chance with the last kick of the half, as Silvere Ganvoula at full stretch just failed to connect with the Monteiro cross from six yards.

Within seconds of the restart, Hadjam hooked Dumfries down with an arm around his neck for a penalty and was very fortunate not to also receive his second yellow card. Marko Arnautovic stepped up and saw his weak, central penalty saved by David von Ballmoos, who also parried the Dumfries rebound.

There was even more bad news for Inter, as Carlos Augusto pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh with a suspected hamstring strain.

Young Boys were revitalised and Monteiro came so close to an opener when turning in midfield and running towards goal, drilling low onto the base of the upright.

Federico Dimarco’s effort on the volley and Zielinski on his assist both skimmed the post, while Monteiro twice got greedy to blast off target and Lautaro Martinez tested von Ballmoos from…