Leverkusen 1-0 Inter Milan (December 10, 2024) Match analysis

Bayer Leverkusen’s Nordi Mukiele scored a goal in the 90th minute to give his team a 1-0 home win over Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and move them closer to qualification.

The Germans, who had more than 60% possession, were the better team for most of the game and hit the post early in the game through Nathan Tella before going close again with shots from Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah.

But they had to wait until the last minute for Mukiele to enter the game after a scramble in front of goal, which was the first goal Inter conceded in the competition after conceding five goals.

The Italians’ first Champions League defeat of the season saw them drop to fourth place on 13 points, behind Leverkusen, also second on 13 points, with two games to go.

The top eight teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, while the next 16 teams go into a playoff to determine the other eight teams that advance.

“I am delighted with the performance against a top team,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. “We showed good maturity. We didn’t expect to have 20 chances, but rather a few good ones and taking advantage of one of them.”

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“My players were aware and knew when to press high. The lines were very tight. We had good stability and structure. We didn’t have a lot of stupid balls that we dropped to give them a chance to run.”

Inter didn’t have a single shot on goal in the game.

Alonso’s side had the upper hand from the start and went close after three minutes when Tella’s thunderous volley bounced off the crossbar.

In the 35th minute, the in-form Wirtz saw his sharp shot parried by Yann Sommer and the Italians were more than happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Leverkusen stayed on the ball with a lot of possession and Jeremie Frimpong narrowly missed the goal after a pass from Wirtz.

Simone Inzaghi’s substitutions after the hour seemed to breathe life into Inter, but they were unable to threaten up front and the game was heading towards a draw until 27-year-old Mukiele pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and scored the winner.

“We weren’t good enough in attack,” said Inzaghi. “We didn’t show enough today to beat a team with their qualities.”

“Our goal remains direct qualification through a place in the top eight and that is still quite possible. Leverkusen played well today, with a lot of pace. It’s obviously bitter that the goal came so close to the end,” he added.