Bayer Leverkusen clinched a dramatic 90th-minute victory over Inter Milan in the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage, condemning the Italian side to their first defeat of the season in Europe. The 1-0 win at the BayArena not only earned Leverkusen all three points but also saw them leapfrog Inter into second place in Group A, closing the gap to leaders Liverpool to five points.
The match appeared destined to end in a draw, with both teams struggling to break down their opponents. Inter, who had been unbeaten in the Champions League, were content to sit deep and defend, rarely venturing forward with purpose. Despite controlling possession, they failed to register a single shot on target throughout the game.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, were far more ambitious in their approach, creating several dangerous opportunities. The hosts came close early on, with Folarin Balogun’s strike hitting the woodwork just three minutes into the match. The German side continued to threaten throughout, testing Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer with 17 shots, seven of which were on target. Leverkusen's dominance in attack was reflected in their expected goals (xG) of 1.32, compared to Inter’s meager 0.26 from just six attempts.
Despite Leverkusen’s consistent pressure, it seemed as though the game would end goalless, with both sides struggling to find the breakthrough. However, in the dying moments of the match, Moussa Diaby delivered a brilliant cross that was met by Nordi Mukiele, whose header in the 90th minute sealed the win for Leverkusen.
The result marks a significant moment for Leverkusen, who had already secured qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League. This victory, however, was a vital one, as it pushed them up to second in the group, ahead of Inter on head-to-head record. For the Italian champions, the defeat was a stark reminder of their inability to convert possession into meaningful chances, raising questions ahead of their next fixtures.
Inter will now shift their focus to Serie A, where they will face Lazio on Monday, looking to bounce back from this setback. Leverkusen, meanwhile, will take on Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, hoping to build on their strong form in both domestic and European competitions.
As the group stage of the Champions League draws to a close, Leverkusen's late win over Inter will be remembered as a thrilling conclusion to a hard-fought match, showcasing both the team's resilience and the unpredictable drama that football so often delivers.
Post a Comment