Jose Maria Gimenez sealed a thrilling victory for Atletico Madrid with a towering header in the 93rd minute, halting Inter Milan’s unblemished Champions League form. The center-back met an Antoine Griezmann corner to snatch the points and hand the Spanish side a vital boost in the group standings.
The Italian visitors had entered the clash with four consecutive triumphs but were stunned at the death. Cristian Chivu’s men now sit level on 12 points with Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, while Diego Simeone’s squad climbed to nine.
The contest had swayed throughout the evening, with both teams threatening at key moments before the decisive late intervention.
Alvarez strikes after lively opening exchanges
Inter enjoyed early momentum, driven by Federico Dimarco’s deliveries and attempts from set pieces. Juan Musso was required to intervene more than once before Atletico settled into the contest.
The breakthrough arrived when Julian Alvarez reacted sharply after Carlos Augusto’s clearance ricocheted off Alex Baena. The forward converted his chance for his 10th goal in 14 Champions League outings since arriving from Manchester City.
Initially ruled out for a handball in the buildup, the decision was reversed after video review, allowing the effort to stand. It became only the second goal conceded by the Italian club in this European campaign.
Despite flashes from Dimarco and a strong strike from Hakan Calhanoglu, Inter were unable to level before the interval and returned to the dressing room behind.
Zielinski responds before Atletico find late edge
Inter’s renewed push after the restart almost paid off immediately. Nicolo Barella controlled a long pass and rattled the bar, while Dimarco forced Musso to act again during a prolonged spell of pressure.
Their persistence was rewarded when Ange-Yoan Bonny threaded a pass through for Piotr Zielinski, who steered his finish beyond the advancing Musso. The equalizer gave the visitors heightened confidence as they searched for a winner.
Atletico then grew back into the duel through their substitutes. Griezmann tested Yann Sommer at the near post, while Marc Pubill’s attempt from a distance required another intervention from the Swiss goalkeeper. The home crowd erupted moments later when Gimenez powered in the final corner.