Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan: Los Blancos put themselves in running for Champions League knock-outs

Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan: Los Blancos put themselves back in contention to qualify for Champions League knock-out stages as Rodrygo scores late winner after letting two-goal lead slip as Antonio Conte’s men face uphill task in Group B

  • Karim Benzema put the home side ahead in the 25th minute after rounding goalkeeper Samir Handanovic
  • Sergio Ramos doubled Madrid’s lead moments later with his head for his 100th goal for the Spanish club
  • Inter immediately responded with a goal as Lautaro Martinez finished Nicolo Barella’s delightful back-heel
  • Ivan Perisic coolly slotted home to put Inter level in the second half after Martinez teed the Croatian up 
  • Rodrygo was introduced as a second half substitute and he fired home the late winner for Los Blancos  

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The boys from Brazil pulled Real Madrid back from the brink of Champions League elimination against Inter Milan.

Madrid were being held 2-2 by Antonio Conte’s side with 10 minutes left when 20-year-old Vinicius raced down the left. He ignored Karim Benzema in the middle and instead picked out his 19-year-old compatriot Rodrygo Goes who fired the ball first time past Samir Handanovic to make it 3-2 on the night.

Both Brazilians had come on in the second period as Inter clawed back a 2-0 deficit. Rodrygo survived a thumping challenge from Ashley Young no sooner had he come on before he got the winner. He then combined with Lucas Vazquez to put the fourth goal on a plate for Benzema but he got his finish all wrong and ended up handling the ball.

Rodrygo came off the bench to score a late winner for Real Madrid as they beat Inter Milan 3-2 in Champions League Group B

Rodrygo came off the bench to score a late winner for Real Madrid as they beat Inter Milan 3-2 in Champions League Group B

Brazilian Rodrygo picked the ball up on the edge of the box and confidently finished into the top corner to win it for Madrid

Brazilian Rodrygo picked the ball up on the edge of the box and confidently finished into the top corner to win it for Madrid

Ivan Perisic had helped Inter claw back a two-goal deficit to put Madrid on the brink of elimination from Group B

Ivan Perisic had helped Inter claw back a two-goal deficit to put Madrid on the brink of elimination from Group B

Benzema it was who had put Real Madrid in front on 25 minutes and it was a gift from one of their own. When they sold Achraf Hakimi to the Italians in the summer they earned 40m euros. His short back pass under pressurefrom Ferland Merland was like a bonus check cashed by Benzema who rounded Handanovic and scored into an empty net.

On 33 minutes it was two with Sergio Ramos heading in Toni Kroos’ corner home for his 100th goal in a Real Madrid shirt. Madrid were on top and Antonio Conte’s side desperately needed a foothold in the match.

Nicolo Barella supplied it with a divine assist flicking the ball to Lautaro Martinez when he was under pressure from Ramos. The Argentine striker gave the pass the finish it deserved scoring first time past Thibaut Courtois.

Karim Benzema but Real Madrid ahead in the 25th minute in an encounter with huge ramifications for Group B

Karim Benzema but Real Madrid ahead in the 25th minute in an encounter with huge ramifications for Group B

The Frenchman got there ahead of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and fired the ball into an empty net to give Madrid the lead

The Frenchman got there ahead of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and fired the ball into an empty net to give Madrid the lead

Sergio Ramos doubled Madrid's lead less than 10 minutes later after rising highest and heading home relatively unmarked

Sergio Ramos doubled Madrid’s lead less than 10 minutes later after rising highest and heading home relatively unmarked

The stylish riposte took the wind out of Madrid’s sails and Inter started the second half the stronger of the two sides. Zinedine Zidane threw on Vinicius and Rodrygo Goes for Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio but at first it provoked improvement only in the Italians.

Ivan Perisic put Inter level when he got goal-side of Vazquez to convert after Lautaro had headed to him from a looping long ball into the area. Casemiro had been caught in possession and Ramos had charged out of position to make a clearance that was never properly completed.

Madrid at this point were bottom of their group after three games. They would have been down if not out. But after Rodrygo’s strike they moved level on points with second placed Shakhtar Donetsk who were thumped by Borussia Mönchengladbach and one place above bottom club Inter.

It was a landmark goal for the legendary centre back as the captain scored his 100th goal for the Spanish giants

Inter halved the deficit just moments later as Lautaro Martinez finished well after a delightful back-heel from Nicolo Barella

Inter halved the deficit just moments later as Lautaro Martinez finished well after a delightful back-heel from Nicolo Barella

Perisic colly slotted home to level things up as Madrid looked set to go a fifth consecutive Champions League game winless

Perisic colly slotted home to level things up as Madrid looked set to go a fifth consecutive Champions League game winless

source: dailymail.co.uk