34 year Alexis Sanchez has had a storied playing career in football and the 158 capped Chilean international has plied his trade at some of the biggest, and most well known, clubs in the world when you chart his start in the game back to 2005.
He will undoubtedly have his own special memories from his long, and incredibly successive career that saw numerous titles and winners medals go his way, but he has only ever returned to one club three times – and that club is Inter Milan.
Having signed a new 12 month deal over the summer, it has been a slow start, but in Tuesday evening’s Champions League Group D clash with Red Bull Salzburg, Sanchez opened the scoring just ahead of the 20 minute mark to open his goalscoring account as it pertains to this spell at the San Siro.
The visitors did level matters up as Oscar Gloukh scored just ahead of the hour mark in the game in the second half, but Inter continued to have the edge in the game and after Lucas Gourna-Douath brought Davide Frattesi down in the penalty box, Hakan Calhanoglu took complete advantage from 12 yards out to restore their lead, and unfortunately for Red Bull Salzburg they just could not find a telling way through again in the 25 minutes that remained in regulation time.
In fact, Inter’s confidence was definitely boosted at 2-1 and with a slightly better element of timing for Lautaro Martinez, he would have made the score 3-1 in the 81st minute, but his perfectly looking effort at goal was ruled out for an earlier offside.
Sanchez’s cool side footed finish will do him the world of good, and fans of the Nerazzurri will definitely be hoping it helps propel him back to the type of form he showed earlier in his career, albeit accepting his is now older so has to play more intelligently, but in opening his account at the third time of asking, he took his own personal Champions League tally to 16 goals, and it has seen him overtake Arturo Vidal (had been joint leader with 15) to become the top scoring Chilean in the competition.
Another memorable gong and another achievement that may well not be bettered for quite a few years yet, as leading Chilean goalscorer in the Champions League is quite a niche achievement.
With the win, Inter are now in top spot in their Group D battle, with seven points from three matches, but most eyes will be on when Sanchez now adds his second and grows his over all tally.
