Leverkusen strike late to down Inter

Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Inter Milan
Goals: 1-0 Mukiele 90' (assist: Terrier)

Leverkusen came into this encounter having won their past five matches in all competitions as they looked to consolidate their place in their league phase's top eight, and they almost broke the deadlock inside the opening few minutes. Following a nice move down the right, Jeremie Frimpong found Nathan Tella free around eight yards from goal, but the Nigerian could only hit the crossbar with his volley. Die Werkself subsequently dominated possession for the remainder of the first half, yet rarely troubled Yann Sommer between the sticks. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper was instead able to easily hold attempts from Alejandro Grimaldo and Granit Xhaka before pushing a Florian Wirtz shot that appeared to be heading wide to safety. At the other end, Davide Frattesi headed wide following a fizzed cross, but Matěj Kovář did not need to deal with a single shot on target prior to the interval.

It was much the same story after the break. While Leverkusen continued to see the lion's share of the ball, Sommer was not put in any real difficulty. Jonathan Tah did go close with a shot from distance, but it went narrowly wide following a deflection off substitute Federico Dimarco. Inter boss Simone Inzaghi made a triple change midway through the half to give his side extra impetus, yet Leverkusen remained on top as they put their opponents under more and more pressure. Xabi Alonso waited until the final 10 minutes of the match to make his first change, bringing in Martin Terrier for Tella in a decisive tactical switch. The Frenchman was the provider as Nordi Mukiele hammered home from close range in the 90th minute to inflict a first defeat on Inter and propel Leverkusen - who face Atlético Madrid next - up to second in the standings.

Match stats

• Leverkusen are now unbeaten in their past nine European matches at the BayArena.
• This was Leverkusen's second consecutive Champions League clean sheet, and their fourth of the 2024/25 league phase.
• Alonso's men are unbeaten in their previous seven games in all competitions.
• This was the first time Leverkusen have avoided defeat in a game with Inter, having previously lost the past three meetings.
• Mukiele's effort was his first for the club since his summer loan move from Paris Saint-Germain.
• It was also the first goal Inter have conceded in this year's league phase.

Teams

Leverkusen: Kovář - Mukiele, Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapié, Grimaldo (García 90'+4) - Palacios, Xhaka - Frimpong, Tella (Terrier 83'), Wirtz (Andrich 90'+4)
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Lomb, Arthur, Schick, Stepanov, Onyeka, Belocian
Out: Adli (broken leg), Boniface (thigh), Hofmann (thigh)
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Inter: Sommer - Bisseck, De Vrij (c), Bastoni - Darmian, Frattesi (Barella 66'), Çalhanoğlu (Asllani 66'), Zieliński, Augusto (Dimarco 56') - Thuram (Lautaro 66'), Taremi (Arnautović 85')
Unused subs: J. Martínez, Calligaris, Buchanan, Mkhitaryan, Aidoo
Out: Pavard (hamstring), Acerbi (hamstring), Di Gennaro (broken finger)
Coach: Simone Inzaghi

As it happened!