Champions League: Rodrygo scores late winner as Real Madrid beats Inter 3-2
Rodrygo scored a crucial goal in the closing stages of the match as Real Madrid edged out Inter Milan 3-2 in the Champions League.
Published : Nov 04, 2020 09:10 IST
Real Madrid boosted its chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages after a late winner by substitute Rodrygo gave it a 3-2 home victory over Inter Milan in an absorbing Group B clash on Tuesday.
The result left Real Madrid level on four points with Shakhtar Donetsk, one point behind leader Borussia Moenchengladbach and two ahead of bottom placed Inter.
The Spanish champion had thrown away a two-goal lead and was flirting with a defeat which would have piled more pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane before its Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined to save the day.
Chances had gone begging at either end before Karim Benzema gave the home side a 25th-minute lead, rounding goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and slotting home after intercepting a dreadful back pass by Real's former wing-back Achraf Hakimi.
The host seemed to be cruising after 33 minutes when Sergio Ramos headed its second -- his 100th goal for the club in all competitions -- but Lautaro Martinez pulled one back for Inter two minutes later thanks to a sublime assist by Nicolo Barella.
Real was rattled when Ivan Perisic equalised midway through the second half, threading a shot into the far corner from close range after Martinez headed the ball into the Croatian's stride.
Inter then missed a pair of gilt-edged chances as Martinez shaved the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the area and Perisic fired wide, with Real's defence in tatters.
The Italians were punished for their misses, however, as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, brought into the fray together by Zidane shortly before Inter's equaliser, carved out the winner from a lightning fast break.
Vinicius Junior raced clear of his marker down the left flank and squared the ball back to Rodrygo, who beat Handanovic with an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 10 metres.
Inter is now under pressure halfway through the group stage to turn its fortunes around and will hope to have striker Romelu Lukaku back for the reverse fixture on November 25 after the Belgium striker missed the match with a thigh injury.