Gimenez’s Last-Minute Header Ends Inter’s Perfect Champions League Run in Madrid

MADRID :  Atletico Madrid delivered a major upset in the Champions League group stage, ending Inter Milan’s perfect run with a thrilling 2-1 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano, courtesy of a last-gasp winner from captain Jose Maria Gimenez.

The defeat was the first of the European campaign for the 2024-25 runners-up, who had recorded four wins from their first four matches.

With the clock ticking past the 90th minute, the match was poised for a draw until substitute Antoine Griezmann delivered a corner kick in the 93rd minute. Gimenez rose highest in the box to thunder his header past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The Spanish side had struck first in the opening half. After an initial period of pressure from Inter—led by the industrious Federico Dimarco—Atletico took the lead when a cross rebounded off Alex Baena and fell to Julian Alvarez, who netted his 10th Champions League goal in just 14 appearances.

The goal was initially disallowed by referee François Letexier for a handball on Baena, but a VAR intervention correctly overturned the decision, confirming Alvarez’s strike—only the second goal Cristian Chivu’s Inter have conceded this season.

Inter came out strong in the second half, hitting the crossbar through Nicolò Barella before their persistence paid off in the 54th minute. Ange-Yoan Bonny slipped a superb ball to Piotr Zielinski, who slotted the equalizer past Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso.

The loss leaves Inter in fourth place in the overall group standings, level on 12 points with Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. Atletico’s vital three points move them up to 12th place on nine points.