Substitute Rodrygo snatched a late winner in a narrow 1-0 victory for Real Madrid at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday night. Inter were the much better side in the first half and created a few half chances which were saved comfortably by Thibaut Courtois, whilst Real Madrid created very little and their front three were not involved in the first forty five. Eder Militao put in a great performance at the back and lead a solid defensive performance by the visitors.
It was a tale of two halves as Real looked better after the break and were on the front foot, controlling possession, but they still created little of note until Rodrygo was able to convert from close range to snatch a late winner. The hosts will feel unlucky to have not taken a point from the match but they were unable to fashion out any clear cut chances, leaving them to rue the missed header from Lautaro Martinez in the first half, in what was to be their best chance of the match.
⚫️? Will Inter find a way past Thibaut Courtois?#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 15, 2021
Inter
Samir Handanovic – 5.5
Had a quiet game with Real only managing two shots on target. Couldn’t do much to prevent the goal.
Milan Skriniar – 7.5
Looked to drive forward with the ball and move into midfield from defence. Was not really troubled defensively but did his job well when needed. Struggled a little bit in the second half with the pace of Vinicius Junior but made up for it with solid defending.
Stefan De Vrij – 7
Had a solid game at the back and was good aerially.
Andrea Bastoni – 6.5
Did his job well when called upon and had a solid performance at the back.
Matteo Darmian – 5.5
Looked to get forward down the right often at right wing-back but got caught out positionally a few times and was subbed off in 55th minute for Dumfries.
Nicolo Barella – 7
Occupied the right half-space and was dangerous playing balls from deep. Whipped in a good cross for Martinez who headed wide in the first half and was progressive with his passing, often switching the ball before he was subbed off late on.
Marcelo Brozovic – 7.5
Was the best player in the first half and looked to dictate tempo from deep. Would often cover in defence, making some important blocks and read the defence well. He also made some good interceptions and tackles but his influence dwindled in the second half.
Hakan Calhanoglu – 5.5
The ex-Milan player had a fairly quiet game but was fairly accurate with his passing and did ok before being subbed off in the 65th minute.
Ivan Perisic – 5
Worked hard and tracked back but wasn’t heavily involved during his time on the pitch and was subbed off in the 55th minute for Dimarco.
Edin Dzeko – 6
Had a good chance inside the first ten minutes after some nice link-up play but his shot was saved at a narrow angle. Was involved a fair amount in the first half but did little in the second.
Lautaro Martinez – 6.5
Linked-up well with Dzeko early on and challenged Courtois into making a save with a header in the first half but could have done better and probably should have scored. Looked lively before being subbed off in 65th minute.
Substitutions:
Denzel Dumfries – 6
Threatened at times down the right flank and also worked back well in defense.
Federico Dimarco – 5
Got into some good positions down the left but wasn’t involved too heavily.
Arturo Vidal – N/A
Joaquin Correra – N/A
Matias Vecino – N/A
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Ice cold from the 20-year-old ? pic.twitter.com/F7vm9yYHkr
— Goal (@goal) September 15, 2021
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois – 7
Made a few comfortable saves throughout the match, including great save low from a Dzeko header after a corner. Did his job well throughout the game.
Dani Carvajal – 7
Was much more involved in the second half and was given more freedom to advance forward. Threatened well down the right and created opportunities.
Eder Militao – 8
Had an opportunity to score from a corner in the first half as he was left unmarked in the box but headed wide of the post and should have hit the target. Had a very good performance defensively throughout the match, making good tackles and blocks, and was Real’s best defender.
David Alaba – 6.5
Alaba was carded in the 60th minute but made an important interception after a Dumfries cross in the second half. Was very solid at the back throughout the match.
Nacho Fernandez – 6.5
Unnatural at left-back, filling in for missing Marcelo and Ferland Mendy. Did well against the pace of Dumfries and was not troubled throughout the game.
Luka Modric – 7.5
Always looked to get on the ball and retained possession well with his usual impeccable work rate. Dictated the tempo in midfield before being substituted for Camavinga in the 80th minute.
Casemiro – 6.5
Good effort from long range in the first half which flashed past the post. Was a little sloppy in possession but still had a good performance.
Fede Valverde – 7
Occupied the right half-space and often sat quite deep, offering defensive cover in the midfield. Was more involved in the second half and played a great ball into Camavinga in the build up to Real’s late winner.
Lucas Vazquez – 5
Had little involvement throughout the match and moved more centrally in the second half, allowing Carvajal to push further forward. Subbed off in 66th min after a quiet performance.
Karim Benzema – 6
Had little involvement in first half but got on the ball more in the second half. Was good in possession with some nice link-up play, dropping deeper when needed but failed to make a big contribution throughout the match.
Vinicius Junior – 6.5
Looked to use his pace on the counter but had little involvement in the first half. Looked more lively in the second half, using his speed and worked the ball well down the left. End product could have been better but still threatened out wide.
Substitutes
Rodrygo – 6.5
Scored the winner late on with a cool finish inside the area.
Camavinga – 6
Assisted the winner with a nice side-footed pass but had little time to impact the match further.