Real Madrid claimed top spot in Group D on Tuesday night, confirming their advancement to the knockout rounds as group winners with a 2-0 defeat of Serie A champions Inter.
2021/2022 UEFA Champions League
2-0
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
2' Vinicius' shot wide out
7' Brozovic's long shot over the bar
16' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Inter (Kroos)
34' Perisic's shot over the bar
45' POST! Rodrygo's shot hits the post
48' MISS! Barella's shot over the bar
63' Red Card! Barella sent off
63' Ardent conflict between Militao and Barella
78' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Inter (Asensio)
Los Blancos impressed at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu with goals in each half from Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio, though they were helped along their way by a moment of madness from Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella.
Real Madrid took the lead with just over a quarter of an hour played as Toni Kroos found himself in a bit of space outside of Inter's area. Having been afforded the time to look up and set himself, the German fired a perfect left-footed striker past Samir Handanovic.
Inter then had their own chances to get back on terms with their hosts, but poor finishing again proved costly for Simone Inzaghi's side. The Italians' chance conversion throughout the group phase has been dire, and that was again their downfall on Tuesday.
Into the second half, Inter's task was made all the more complicated as Barella lost his cool. The hot-headed Sardinian, who had matured under Antonio Conte, momentarily reverted to his younger Cagliari self. Having been on the end of an Eder Militao challenge that sent him crashing into the advertising boards around the pitch, Barella responded by lashing out and punching the Brazilian's leg before squaring up to him aggressively. Militao was booked for his part in the incident and Barella was rightly dismissed.
Then Asensio came off the bench and scored within a minute. Again with space on the edge of the area, the Mallorcan lined up a freekick-like effort that fizzed into the top corner, kissing the post on its way.
The win sees Real Madrid beat Inter for the second time in the competition this season and advance as group winners.
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Modric, Kroos, Alaba, Courtois, Casemiro, Carvajal, Jovic, F Mendy, Militao, Vinicius, Rodrygo
Subs: Marcelo, Hazard, Isco, Nacho, Vazquez, Mariano, Vallejo, Asensio, Valverde, A. Lunin, E. Camavinga, Toni Fuidias
Inter XI: Perisic, Handanovic, Dzeko, D'Ambrosio, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Skriniar, Barella, Dumfries, Lautaro, Bastoni
Subs: Sanchez, Vidal, Kolarov, A. Cordaz, De Vrij, Vecino, Dimarco, Gagliardini, Sensi, Radu, M. Zanotti