It was around seven minutes to seven local time that the first big roar of the evening went up around the magnificent San Siro.
Not for the teams striding out on the the immaculate green turf, nor for the kick-off that was to follow a few moments later.
It was upon hearing the Champions League anthem, that overblown operatic aria so detested by Manchester City’s fans, that brought the first Milanese roar of an incredible night.
Matias Vecino scored a dramatic late winner as Inter Milan secured victory against Tottenham
The Inter players celebrate securing victory in their first Champions League game since 2012
Mauro Icardi’s effort pulled Inter Milan level in the closing stages of the second half
Inter showed excellent determination to keep battling and Icardi eventually equalised
It has, after all, been a long time since these fans have heard it here. March 2012 was the last time Inter’s fans were able to bask in the glory of a Champions League night, only two years after becoming European Champions under Jose Mourinho.
There is even a banner in the corner of the Curva Nord, where the Ultra’s gather, proclaiming Jose Mourinho – Ciampino (champion).
But it has been a long and painful road back to Europe’s top table for the club that first won the continent’s foremost cup in the 1960s, twice.
Changes of management and ownership since Mourinho took them to the summit eight years ago left Inter in a sorry state, and they only scraped into fourth place to qualify this time.
The start of the season under Luciano Spalletti has been inauspicious, too, with four points from four games, in front of far but full houses, but that did not stop the fans coming out in force. After all, as former Inter manager Claudio Ranieri once said at Leicester: ‘We’re in the Champions League, man – dilly ding, dilly dong!’
The Inter fans created an impressive atmosphere in the famous San Siro
Inter Milan supporters relished their club’s first Champions League home game since 2012
Certainly the atmosphere around the imposing stadium was buoyant beforehand, with plenty of throwbacks to the past. Some shirts still bore the name of Wesley Sneijder, one of the stars of the 2010 side, but there were far more bearing the name of Mauro Icardi, the current darling of Inter as captain and striker, much as Harry Kane is for Spurs.
Inside the atmosphere was more raucous, with the Ultras unfurling a huge banner portraying cartoon hooligans with chains, frothing mugs of beer and the slogan ‘You’ll never drink alone.’
There were plenty more flags and banners around the ground, which was almost full apart from the fringes around the small band of Tottenham supporters high up in the Curva Sud.
The away fans struggled to make themselves heard, at least until Christian Eriksen put them ahead after half-time. From the start the home supporters were intent on creating an intimidating atmosphere, noisily jeering every offside decision against Icardi, whistling as Mauricio Pochettino’s men tried to play a patient passing game, and roaring every time Inter went forward.
It was frustrating for them, even though their side started brightly, closing down Tottenham’s back four as forcing errors from the visitors, but not capitalising on their chances. This Spurs team are more worldly-wise in European competition than the one that were 4-0 down with ten men after 35 minutes eight years ago.
Vecino’s header sparked jubilant celebrations from Inter players and supporters
Inter coach Luciano Spalletti was left delighted after his side’s dramatic comeback
No longer the gung-ho side of Harry Redknapp, this Tottenham team know how to draw the sting out of opponents by keeping possession and frustrating their ambitions, as they did brilliantly at Juventus last season.
Once Eriksen scored, and Inter’s play became more urgent and a little desperate, mistakes started to creep in from the Italians and their fans showed their frustration. Spurs were not at their best – far from it – but they could and would have gone three or four goals ahead if Erik Lamela had shown more composure and less selfishness in the final third, as the visitors started to exploit space in Inter’s defence.
With 20 minutes to go, the roaring Ultras had been almost silenced and a hush almost descended. The flags were still waving – 14 huge ones in the upper tier of the Curva Nord, which must have led to obstructed views for a fair few fans – but there was less belief and a growing realisation that perhaps this was not going to be their night.
Marcelo Brozovic and Radja Nainggolan, two of their brightest sparks in the first-half, started hitting the ball long or out of play, and Ivan Perisic was substituted.
This victory will provide Inter with belief that they can enjoy an impressive campaign in Europe
The Inter players jump for joy after their impressive turnaround against Tottenham
But with time running out, on the stroke of the 85th minute, the roar was back and Icardi hit an unstoppable equaliser past Michel Vorm from 20 yards, volleying Kwadwo Asamoah’s deep cross with such venom that it almost burst the net.
It was a world-class goal befitting any of the greats from Inter’s past and the Curva Nord erupted. Suddenly they sensed a chance, having been given so many lifelines by Tottenham’s wastefulness.
The home crowd roared their side on, and they won a corner in stoppage time. Tottenham showed again the defensive slackness that has cost them dear in the past few weeks, and Matias Vecino rose to head home the winner from close range.
That was it. The final whistle, moments later, was greeted with a crescendo of noise and colour around this famous old stadium that has seen some thrilling nights.
The stands were literally rocking as supporters celebrated wildly, and they were rewarded when their players ran towards the Curva Nord in a line, hand-in-hand, for a final celebration before leaving the field.
Champions League football came back with a vengeance at the San Siro – and so did Inter Milan.