ñJosé María Giménez rose highest to head home a stoppage-time winner as Atlético Madrid edged Inter Milan 2-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Champions League.
Julian Alvarez had given Atlético an early lead, only for Piotr Zielinski to cancel it out for the visitors, keeping Inter’s unbeaten run alive for most of the match.
But Giménez’s dramatic header from a late corner secured Atlético’s third victory in the competition and handed Inter their first defeat after four consecutive wins.
The game started at a frantic pace, with Inter’s Federico Dimarco forcing an early scare as his low drive skimmed just wide of the post inside three minutes. Atlético responded swiftly, and six minutes later, they opened the scoring.
Hakan Çalhanoglu lost possession in midfield, and Giuliano Simeone’s dangerous ball toward the back post ricocheted off Carlos Augusto before landing at Alvarez’s feet, who slotted it home.
The goal was initially ruled out for handball, but VAR confirmed Alvarez’s finish was legal, sending the home fans into celebration.
Chances continued to flow at both ends. Calhanoglu tested Juan Musso from distance, while Alvarez’s long-range strike was comfortably saved by Inter keeper Yann Sommer.
Inter came out strong in the second half, hitting the crossbar early through Nicolò Barella. Their pressure paid off in the 54th minute when Zielinski capitalized on a pass from Ange-Yoan Bonny and neatly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to equalize.
With the match heading for a draw, Atlético found a late hero. In the dying moments of stoppage time, Antoine Griezmann delivered a precise corner, and Giménez met it perfectly, directing a powerful header into the bottom corner to snatch all three points.
