Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League
Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan: as it happened
Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan: match summary
Inter Milan brought the weight of a lengthy historical drought against Spanish sides to the Bernabéu on Tuesday night in a match to decide the winners of Champions League Group D and they left with that record extended but their pride intact after taking Real Madrid to the wire in a high-pressing game settled by two wonderful strikes from Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi deployed an attacking 5-3-2 and harried for every ball in a first half the visitors won on points, the only blemish on their game plan Kroos' expertly taken goal against the run of play.
After the break Inter had their chances as well but two incidents stymied their cause: Nicoló Barella's red card for lashing out at Éder Militão and Asensio's wonder goal seconds after coming on, the Spain international beating Handanovic with a perfectly measured strike into the top corner.
Inzaghi's gung-ho approach led to his side racking up more attempts than Madrid, but the visitors only managed two on target, both of which were dealt with by the otherwise unruffled Thibaut Courtois.
On another night, the Serie A side may have drawn level, perhaps even beaten Madrid for the fist time in almost 50 years, but Carlo Ancelotti has created a machine that is more than the sum of its parts and one that didn't even miss its talisman Karim Benzema unduly.
Luka Jovic stood up to fill that void, the Serbian gaining the appreciation of the Bernabéu for a sleeves-rolled-up performance, but it was the defensive display of Militão that kept Madrid's ship afloat at one end and the unerring ability of Kroos and Asensio to find a gap with a long-range effort that sunk Inter at the other.
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
When is the 2021/2022 Champions League Round of 16 draw taking place?
The draw for the next round takes place on 13 December, that's next Monday.
2021/2022 Champions League Round of 16: all qualified teams
Here's all the teams who have qualified so far for the knockout stages of this year's Champions League.
Here's how the group looks after the final round of matches.
| group D | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
After weathering an Inter storm in the first half, Madrid carve out a 2-0 win to make sure they go into next Monday's draw among the top seeds, which means Ancelotti's side will avoid Bayern, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. They could get PSG though.
And much like the first half, in something we've certainly never seen before, there is not a scrap of added time in the Bernabéu.
Madrid happy to keep the ball in the Inter half now, without sticking their necks out too far.
31 shots in the game so far, only two on target from Inter despite that period of first-half dominance.
Skriniar! The Slovakia international meets a corner with a decent header but plants it straight at Courtois, who makes a bread and butter save.
Madrid are all over the Inter back four for a moment and Carvajal has a golden opportunity to make it three after a dreadful error from Perisic but the visitors hack it clear.
Vinicius off to an ovation, Eden Hazard on to a mixed reception.
The number 11 picks his spot and curls an unstoppable shot past Handanovic to make it 2-0 to Madrid!
Fresh legs for Madrid as Valverde, Asensio and Mariano come on, Kroos, Jovic and Rodrygo making way.
Inter sub Bastoni joins the growing list in the book. It's fair to say the game has lost a bit of its edge now with Inter looking a bit flat and Madrid not in the mood for taking any uneccessary risks.
Casemiro makes way for Camavinga with an eye on the last 16.
Rodrygo! A quick combination from Madrid puts the Brazilian through and he draws a decent save from Handanovic.
The game has taken on a different dimension now as Inter have lost a bit of heart after going down to 10 men. Madrid seem happy enough to keep their foot off the gas for now.
Militao escapces with a yellow, despite being just as "aggressive" in the melee. One for the conspiracy theorists.
And Barella is off! Straight red card for the Inter midfielder, who took a swing at Militao but from the floor and against the back of his knee. Seems a bit harsh to be honest.
Handbags between Barella and Militao, who appears to shove his head into the Italy midfielder's face after a shove and might even have aimed a punch... VAR having a look.
Changes for Inter and Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sánchez get the kind of welcome you might expect as former Barcelona players.
Militao throws himself at a Perisic cross to make another vital interception. The defender is having one of his best games in a Madrid shirt this evening.
The free comes to nothing but the ball lands to Casemiro after a defensive error and the Brazilian hits a decent enough shot but straight at Handanovic.
Skriniar almost follows for another foul on Vinicius and Madrid have a handy looking free kick on the left.
D'Ambrosio is the first name in Brych's little black book as he trips Vinicius to prevent a Madrid break.
Casemiro looks ok to continue and in fact pops up in the area to get his head to a Kroos corner but the effort pings over the bar.
Casemiro is down in some discomfort after a tangle with D'Ambrosio and it doesn't look too good for the Madrid anchorman.
Barella! The Italy international is through one-on-one with Courtois but lashes high! Great chance for Inter there.
Change for Inter, Dumfries off, we can only assume due to injury, Federico Dimarco on.
The teams are coming back out now. They'll do well to top the excitement level of the opening 45.
Inter have had the better of possession and created more chances, but Madrid have come closer to adding to their tally since the opening goal went in against the run of play. The stage is set for a fascinating second half anyway.
Rodrygo! The ball falls to the Brazilian from a cleared corner and he flashes a shot into the side netting to bring a breathless half to a close!
Rodrygo! Modric threads a ball through the Inter defence and the Brazilian turns his shot onto the post from inside the area!
Inter have racked up 12 shots to Madrid's five so far but both sides have only registered one on target.
It's end to end stuff now as both sides stage quick breaks but neither troubles either keeper with the respective defences holding firm on the back foot.
Jovic! The Serb almost makes it two with a clever run between the Inter defence and a clipped shot that shaves the post!
Three successive corners for Inter and Madrid manage to clear two of them before Perisic tries an acrobatic effort that flies over the bar. Madrid can count themselves lucky if they take their 1-0 lead into the break.
Perisic! He bagged one against Roma and tries the same again, looking for the inside of the near post from a corner. His effort takes a nick off Carvajal and clips the upright.
Calhanoglu spies an opening and tries to beat Courtois from distance but his effort flies high, wide and none too handsome.
Skriniar! Another header, this time from a corner, and Carvajal hooks it clear. Inter are knocking on the door again...
Dzeko! The big Bosnian gets the better of Alaba and nods towards goal but he can't get any real power on it and Courtois gathers comfortably.
Vinicius twists and turns in the area and goes to ground between two defenders, claiming a trip on the part of Dumfries. Felix Brych says no dice though and waves play on.
Inter almost reply immediately as Lautaro squares for Barella for a tap-in but Militao is there to cut the ball out. Fine defending from the Madrid man.
A case in point as the German picks up a harmless looking ball outside the area, shifts it to his left and unleashes an unstoppable shot past Handanovic. What a strike from the German and Madrid, incredibly, are in the lead.
Inter bossing the pass completion and possession stats at the moment. But if Madrid are characterised by anything this season under Ancelotti, it's conjuring something out of nothing.
Dumfries again with a fine cross and Militao is forced to turn it behind for a corner with Dzeko lurking in the area. Inter very much on top at the moment.
Perisic! Dumfries delivers a glorious ball and the Croatian meets it on the volley but Carvajal hurls himself into the effort and makes a vital block.
Inter's midfield press has Madrid flummoxed at the moment, the Italian side are winning a lot of balls as the home team struggle to bring it of theri own half. How much will Madrid miss the presence of Benzema up front to hold possession and bring teammates into play?
Brozovic! The Croatian latches onto a knock-down and lashes a shot just over Courtois' bar! A cracking effort that had the Belgian beaten but wouldn't come down in time.
Inter looking to settle on the ball now with the visitors' five-man midfield seeking control of the middle of the park.
55,000 fans at the Bernabéu tonight. 1,200 of them supporting Inter.
Vinicius! An early warning shot from the Brazilian, who drives down the left and sends a shot across Handanovic's goal.
We're off! Inter get the ball rolling in the Bernabéu.
Inter are lining up in a back three with the electric Denzel Dumfries and Ivan Perisic looking to cause Madrid problems on the flanks.
The teams are in the tunnel and we're about to hear the Champions League anthem as we prepare for kick-off!
Rodrygo in the Champions League
The Brazilian has two goals in 211 minutes in the Champions League this season, but has yet to find the net in the league in over double that amount of time. A big game player for sure, and still only 20, he scored against Inter in the return leg and has seven goals and eight assists in 20 appearances overall in the competition.
So no deference to league obligations from either side, with only enforced absences really playing a part in team selection. We had rather hoped to see Sensi get a start for Inter but we imgaine he'll be on at some point.
Inter starting XI confirmed
Plenty of experience on the pitch for Inter with the likes of Perisic, Brozovic and Dzeko. Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicoló Barella start in midfield with D'Ambrosio, Skriniar and Bastoni operating in a back three with Dumfries and Perisic acting as wing backs.
Real Madrid starting XI confirmed
Few surprises from Ancelotti - and zero rotation from the Italian once again. Jovic comes in for Benzema and Rodrygo gets the third attacking slot ahead of Asensio, which is generally the only incognito in an Ancelotti Madrid side at the moment.
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan: times, TV and how to watch online
For a detailed look at tonight's game, look no further than our pre-match overview of the two sides.
Champions League knockout stage schedule: when is the round of 16?
11 teams are already through to the Champions League round of 16, including current champions Chelsea, Dutch giants Ajax and Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
That leaves five more to book their places in the knock-out stages and there are some big names doing battle over the next 24 hours to get there, including Atlético, AC Milan, Sevilla, Porto, Barcelona and Benfica.
The visitors arrive in decent form though, having won their last five on the trot and unbeaten in 11 in all competitions. It may well be that Inzaghi sees Madrid - who will be mildly preoccupied by the derby against Atlético on Sunday - as vulnerable to an attacking game plan.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has a few absences this evening, most notably central defenders Stefan de Vrij and Andrea Ranocchia. Matteo Darmian, Joaquín Correa and Aleksandar Kolarov are also missing, leaving Inter a little light at the back.
Jovic makes his case at Real Madrid
That will mean another start for Luka Jovic, who climbed off the bench against Real Sociedad at the weekend to set one up and score another in a 2-0 victory. The Serbian striker has not had much luck since his €60m move to Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt but will have another chance this evening to prove his worth.
Benzema out for Madrid
One player who will not be lining up for Madrid this evening is talismanic striker Karim Benzema, who has become the leader and top scorer for Ancelotti's side, as well as the top assist provider.
The Frenchman stands just two shy of Raúl's 66 European goals for Madrid and has five in the Champions League this season, with the striker bagging 17 goals and eight assists in 20 appearances overall.
Inter's Madrid block
History does not favour the visitors this evening: Milan have not beaten Madrid in Europe since 1967 and last won away in Spain in 2004, beating Liga opposition just twice in their last 11 attempts in continental competition. That said, Madrid have a tricky run of fixtures between now and Christmas and Carlo Ancelotti may be tempted to make some changes this evening - something he has shown a reluctance to do this season.
There is little at stake this evening in real terms for either side - unlike the scenario in a couple of other groups where three or even four sides can still qualify, or be eliminated - with both Madrid and Inter safely through to the last 16. All that remains to be resolved in Group D is who goes through as group winners, something that is not always a guarantee of a supposedly easier draw in the last 16 given the strength of some of the teams that end up outside the top seeds.
| group D | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan: welcome
Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of the Champions League Group D match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan from the Santiago Bernabéu. Kick-off this evening is at 21:00 CET.