Result: Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan
Date: 03 November 2020
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid got their first win in the UEFA Champions League group stages after edging Inter Milan 3-2 on Tuesday evening.
Raphael Varane replaced Eder Militao, who tested positive for Coronavirus, as Marcelo and Luka Modric made way for Ferland Mendy and Toni Kroos, while Inter were without Romelu Lukaku.
Kroos looked for an early impact down the flank four minutes in after combining with Eden Hazard to set up Marco Asensio for a strike at goal, but Samir Handanovic palmed over before Nicolo Barella headed narrowly wide of the mark at the other end.
Los Blancos eventually grabbed the lead on 25 minutes when Karim Benzema intercepted a back-pass from Hakimi before going on to round Handanovic for an easy finish.
It was 2-0 eight minutes later as a corner-kick from Kroos found captain Sergio Ramos, who made a late run into the area to head into the right corner of Handanovic's net.
Inter were given a lifeline in the last ten minutes of the half after Lautaro Martinez held off pressure play from Varane to poke a loose ball from Barella past Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Martinez shaped towards a double three minutes from halftime off a loose ball from Marcelo Brozovic, but the Argentine watched his attempt spurned.
Los Blancos head coach Zinedine Zidane made a double substitution midway in the second half as Vinicus Junior and Rodrygo were introduced for Asensio and Hazard respectively.
Inter clawed their way back on 68 minutes through Perisic who beat off one challenge in the area to guide Martinez's ball past Courtois.
However, Zinedine Zidane's boys made the points safe ten minutes from time when Rodrygo took one touch from Vinicius' ball to rifle into the top corner.
Inter looked to grab a point in the latter minutes of the match, but Los Blancos stood stall for their first win Group B.
