Nordi Mukiele strikes late on as Bayer Leverkusen beat Inter Milan
Nordi Mukiele scored in the last minute of normal time as Bayer Leverkusen edged past Inter Milan 1-0 in their UEFA Champions League encounter at the BayArena.
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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.
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!
1 - 0
(0 - 0)
Leverkusen
FINAL
Inter
Champions League League phase, Matchday 6 League phase, Matchday 6 BayArena
Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Inter Milan
Nordi MukieleÄ's last-minute strike secures all three points for Leverkusen against Inter! Leverkusen had dominated the encounter but, besides Nathan Tella's shot that hit the bar inside the opening three minutes, rarely truly threatened. In Die Werkself's quest for a top-eight finish, this could be crucial.
In the final minute of normal time, Mukiele gives Leverkusen the breakthrough. Following a bit of pinball in the box, the ball falls to the full-back, who buries with aplomb. That could be a crucial goal for Alonso and Co!
A cross/shot from Wirtz is held by the Inter goalkeeper, bringing an end a sustained spell of Leverkusen pressure. They look the most likely to score, but can they find the strike they are looking for?
Tight affair
While Leverkusen have dominated possession, there is still nothing between the two outfits.
The Netherlands international pokes wide from a tight angle after a clever Wirtz pass.
50'
Mukiele over
First shot of the half, but the right-back can't keep his volley down.
49'
More of the same
The start of this second half has seen Leverkusen again control possession.
46'
Back up and running
We are underway once more.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Inter Milan
It remains goalless in Leverkusen after the opening 45 minutes. The hosts came closest to the breaking the deadlock when Nathan Tella struck the crossbar early on, but while they controlled possession, Die Werkself rarely put Yann Sommer under real pressure.
The ball breaks to the midfielder on the edge of the box, and a deflection takes it narrowly over the bar. Corner for Leverkusen, therefore, but it comes to nothing.
The home team are enjoying the majority of possession thus far, with Inter yet to threaten.
3'
Bar!
Leverkusen have an early chance to take the lead! A nice move finds Frimpong, who crosses towards an unmarked Tella in the box. However, his volley cannons back of the upright. The hosts have started positively.
1'
Underway!
We've kicked off here in Leverkusen!
Kick-off!
Players on the pitch
The two teams are out on the field of play at the BayArena.
Wirtz on fire
Only two players have scored more than Wirtz's five goals in the UEFA Champions League league phase. He netted twice last time out versus Red Bull Salzbzurg, and will be eager to add to his account here.
Former Borussia Mönchengladbach man Marcus Thuram scored his 11th goal of the season against Parma in Serie A at the weekend, making him the club's leading scored this campaign. The France international has previously scored twice against Leverkusen during his career.
Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, makes three changes to the team that beat St. Pauli. Matěj Kovář comes in for captain Lukáš Hrádecký, while Nordi Mukiele replaces Arthur and Jeremie Frimpong takes Alex García's place.
Simone Inzaghi makes five changes to the team that defeated Parma at the weekend. Amongst those to come in are Mehdi Taremi in place of captain Lautaro Martínez, while former Borussia Dortmund man Henrikh Mkhitaryan drops to the bench.
The hosts are without Adli (broken leg), Boniface (thigh) and Hofmann (thigh), but Alonso has offered this update on Schick: "He's on the right path and is making progress. We are seeing how he is day by day."
1:16
Watch: All of Çalhanoğlu's Bundesliga goals for Leverkusen
Çalhanoğlu is remembered fondly at the BayArena for an iconic stint that included some incredible dead ball heroics.
Çalhanoğlu on facing Alonso's side
"We know they are strong and in the past years they have become a great team. We have to be careful in the restarts, but at the same time we know that at the moment we are in good form and we are ready to play our cards to continue our journey."
"After seven years I returned here for the first time, I'm happy to have seen so many people again. I can't wait to play this match, I've felt so many emotions here. My journey in Italy wasn't easy at the beginning because I had to learn a new language and get used to a new country, but now I'm aware that I've improved a lot."
Simone Inzaghi on facing Leverkusen
"We watched and rewatched Leverkusen's games, they have played with both four and three at the back recently. Xabi Alonso's side is recognisable, managed by a top coach who has his own principles: they play out from deep and press. We will have to be focused, we are ready to face whichever set-up in front of us."
"They are a strong opponent and we know about their quality. We are well prepared for the game. I remember the game [vs. Inter in 2020]. It was my first year at Bayer. We were young back then, had a new coach and we had to get used to a lot of new things. But now we are a close-knit team and have lots of players with more experience. It will be a different game from last time."
"We're playing against one of the best teams in Europe. It will be a big challenge and it will show us where we’re up to. We are at home, at our stadium, with our atmosphere and therefore we are very much looking forward to the match. We always want to get better and better and win every game. I'm glad the players also have that attitude and always want to do their best. We are on the right path and the game against Inter tomorrow is the next step."
This game will be of special significance to midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, as he played for Leverkusen between 2014 and 2017, making 115 appearances and scoring 29 goals. In addition, a good few members of the Inter squad have experience against German teams from their time playing in the country. Yann Sommer (Gladbach & Bayern), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart & Bayern), Yann Aurel Bisseck (Kiel), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Dortmund), Marko Arnautović (Werder) and Marcus Thuram (Gladbach) have all had spells at Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 sides.
Tuesday night's clash will be the first time Leverkusen have faced Inter since August 2020, when the two sides met at the semi-final stage of the Europa League. An altered competition format due to the COVID pandemic meant that it was just a one-legged affair, and the crucial match finished 2-1 to the Nerazzurri, with Kai Havertz scoring the only goal for the German side.
After knocking Bayern out of the DFB Cup in midweek, Leverkusen continued their good run of form with a home victory over St. Pauli on matchday 13.
Leverkusen - the story so far
Bayer Leverkusen are currently sixth and in the top eight automatic qualifiers for the last 16, leading a pack of seven teams all on 10 points. The Bundesliga champions responded to a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Matchday 4 with a brilliant 5-0 win at home to Salzburg at the end of November.
Inter are riding high in second place in the 36-team league stage table on 13 points after five games. They have won all of their last three Champions League encounters 1-0, most recently against RB Leipzig.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Bayer Leverkusen's sixth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Inter Milan on Tuesday.
