Inter Milan was made to pay for its profligacy as a late goal from substitute Rodrygo saw Real Madrid snatch a 1-0 win in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.
Rodrygo scored in the 89th minute with what was only Madrid's second shot on target. Inter had peppered its opponent's goal but been denied by a string of fantastic saves and some wayward finishing.
“We deserved so much more. But if you don’t score goals, it’s difficult to win," Inter forward Edin Dzeko said. "The goal they got was unlucky, we deserved much more because we had a great game against a great opponent.
“We had our chances. (Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut) Courtois was very good and us less so on certain occasions, but we shouldn’t have lost this match. It’s a great pity.”
It was the first Champions League match back in front of its fans for Inter with more than 37,000 at San Siro, which is allowed to be at 50 per cent capacity for games.
“It was the most difficult match of the group and we did it by suffering too," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Inter kept a really high rhythm in the first half and it paid for that in the second period.
“We are the two favourites, we’ve got the advantage now with this win. But nobody expected Sheriff’s victory over Shakhtar so you always have to be wary.”
Inter and Madrid met in last season’s group stage, with the Spanish team winning both encounters — 3-2 at home and 2-0 at San Siro.
Inter had also won only three of its last 16 Champions League matches but it dominated from the start on Wednesday and almost took an early lead. Dzeko’s angled shot was parried by Courtois and Milan Skriniar’s follow-up was deflected wide. The Inter defender headed the resulting corner narrowly off target.
Courtois also did well to palm away a header from Lautaro Martinez in the 19th minute.
Madrid managed a couple of incursions into the Inter penalty area but the danger was calmly cleared by the Nerazzurri.
The visitor didn’t have a shot on target in the first half, and the closest it came was when Eder Militao headed a corner wide of the right post.
Moments later, Inter had a double chance as first Martinez headed wide of the left upright and then shortly afterwards Marcelo Brozović's shot went narrowly past the same post.
Inter should have done better nine minutes into the second half. Courtois again did well to palm away Dzeko’s glancing header, Ivan Perisic missed the target from point-blank range and — after several nervy seconds — Madrid eventually managed to clear the danger.
At the other end, Madrid finally had its first shot on target in the 57th, but Dani Carvajal’s attempt was at a comfortable height for Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Madrid enjoyed more possession in the second half but did not appear a threat.
However, it snatched all three points right at the death as Eduardo Camavinga flicked the ball on for Rodrygo to volley into the bottom right corner and spark scenes of wild celebration on the Madrid bench.
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