Inter maintain flawless Champions League record with 2-1 win over Kairat

Inter Milan kept their 100% start in this season's Champions League by edging Kazakhstan debutants Kairat Almaty 2-1 at the San Siro on Wednesday. Carlos Augusto's decisive strike in the 67th minute secured Inter's fourth win from four group matches.

The victory leaves Inter on 12 points, level with Bayern Munich and Arsenal at the top of the group and firmly positioned to advance to the last 16. While qualification scenarios vary, a strong points tally from the remaining fixtures would almost certainly guarantee progression.

Stronger tests await the Nerazzurri, with home games against Liverpool and Arsenal and an away meeting at Atletico Madrid among their upcoming challenges.

"There are no easy games in the Champions League, we didn’t play our best but we managed to win," said match-winner Carlos Augusto. "We know our quality but must prove it every time we're on the pitch."

A Stubborn Kairat Push Inter to the Edge

Although Inter controlled much of the ball and created the clearer openings early on, they met a compact Kairat backline that proved hard to break down. Lautaro Martinez broke the deadlock just before half-time, marking his 160th goal for the club after reacting quickest when his initial shot was blocked.

Kairat fought back after the interval: Ofri Arad rose to head home nine minutes into the second half and briefly threatened one of the competition's shocks. It was Carlos Augusto's driven low finish that ultimately prevented the Kazakh side from leaving Milan with a point.

Visitors' goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov produced several key saves, including a double-stop to deny Martinez early on and a fingertip stop to keep out Pio Esposito later in the game.

Kairat remain only three points off the play-off places and still face Copenhagen, Olympiakos and Club Brugge before travelling to Arsenal. Their display in Milan highlighted the resilience of a team making its first foray into Europe's top competition.

Inter will aim to tighten their finishing and defensive focus as the group stage continues; the margin for error shrinks as the knockout rounds approach.