Atlético Madrid 2-1 Inter: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Atlético Madrid 2-1 Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Atlético Madrid got off to a flying start at home, with Julian Alvarez finding the net in the 9th minute to give them an early lead. Inter fought back but couldn’t break through in the first half, despite a yellow card for their man Federico Dimarco just before the break at 44 minutes. The hosts held firm, but the game stayed tight with neither side dominating.

The second half saw Inter equalise through Piotr Zielinski in the 54th minute, shifting the momentum their way for a spell. Both teams made a flurry of substitutions around the hour mark, with Atlético bringing on the likes of Nahuel Gonzalez, Koke, and Marc Pubill at 59 minutes, followed by A. Griezmann and A. Sorloth at 68 minutes, while Inter refreshed with Petar Sucic and Marcus Thuram at 66 minutes, then Francesco Esposito and Davide Frattesi at 72 minutes, and Luis Henrique at 80 minutes. It all came down to the wire, as Jose Maria Gimenez popped up with a dramatic winner for Atlético in the 90+3rd minute, sealing a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Possession was almost even, with Atlético Madrid holding 48% compared to Inter’s 52%, which reflected a balanced game where neither side could fully take control, though Inter’s slight edge didn’t translate into more goals. Corners were close too, at 7-6 in Atlético’s favour, but it was their successful dribbles lagging behind at 28 to Inter’s impressive 67 that showed the visitors were more effective at beating defenders and pushing forward. Cards were minimal, with just one yellow for Inter and none for Atlético players, though their manager Diego Simeone picked up a booking at 64 minutes, perhaps adding to the tension without majorly disrupting the flow.

Substitutions saw both sides use all five available, with Atlético making a triple change at 59 minutes—Nahuel Gonzalez replacing Nahuel Molina, Koke coming on for Conor Gallagher, and Marc Pubill for Johnny Cardoso—followed by Alexander Sorloth replacing Matteo Ruggeri and Antoine Griezmann for Alex Baena at 68 minutes, which seemed to inject fresh energy leading to their late goal. Inter responded with changes like Petar Sucic for Piotr Zielinski and Marcus Thuram replacing Ange-Yoan Bonny at 66 minutes, then Francesco Esposito for Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi for Hakan Calhanoglu at 72 minutes, and Luis Henrique coming on for Federico Dimarco at 80 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the injury-time heartbreak. Assists were level at one each, underlining how key individual moments, like Griezmann’s setup for the winner, decided the match over sustained dominance.

The game’s turning points hinged on those crucial goals, starting with Julian Alvarez’s scrappy early strike in the 9th minute for Atlético Madrid, after a VAR review, which set a positive tone for the hosts. Inter clawed back with Piotr Zielinski’s equaliser at 54 minutes, thanks to an assist from Ange-Yoan Bonny, briefly putting them in the ascendancy. But the real drama came in stoppage time, as Jose Maria Gimenez headed home Atlético’s winner at 90+3 minutes, with Antoine Griezmann providing the assist to snatch all three points.

Substitutions played a big role too, especially Atlético’s triple switch at 59 minutes that brought fresh legs and helped them regain composure after Inter’s goal. Inter’s changes around the 66th and 72nd minutes aimed to maintain their push, but a yellow card for manager Diego Simeone at 64 minutes added extra spice without leading to any dismissals. Overall, it was Gimenez’s late header that proved decisive, turning a potential draw into a vital win for Atlético.

Atlético Madrid lined up in a solid 4-1-4-1 formation, with a defensive midfielder anchoring things to allow the four across the middle to support the lone striker up top. Standout partnerships included the central defensive duo providing stability, while the wide players offered width and crossing options to feed the attack. This setup helped them absorb pressure and launch quick counters effectively.

Inter deployed a 3-5-2 shape, relying on wing-backs to provide the width and a midfield trio to control the centre, supporting the two forwards. Key roles shone through in the wing-backs’ overlapping runs, creating chances, and the central defenders’ organisation kept things tight at the back. This formation allowed them to build play patiently and exploit spaces on the break.

Jose Maria Gimenez earned Man of the Match honours for his heroic late goal in the 90+3rd minute that secured the win for Atlético Madrid. As a defender, he was rock-solid throughout, marshalling the backline effectively against Inter’s attacks. His timing and composure in the box for that injury-time header, assisted by Antoine Griezmann, turned the game on its head and made him the standout performer.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Inter (H)
• Win: 3-1 vs Union Saint-Gilloise (H)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Arsenal (A)
• Win: 5-1 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Liverpool (A)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Atlético Madrid (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Kairat (H)
• Win: 4-0 vs Union Saint-Gilloise (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Slavia Praha (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Ajax (A)

Atlético Madrid will be buzzing after this late victory, boosting their confidence as they sit comfortably in the league standings. Their next Champions League fixture sees them travel to face a tricky opponent in PSV Eindhoven, where they’ll look to build on this momentum and keep the positive run going. A win there could solidify their position and keep the fans dreaming big.

Inter will be gutted to lose in such dramatic fashion, a result that might dent their morale despite a strong showing. They head into their next match away to Pisa, aiming to bounce back quickly and get points on the board. Consistency will be key for them to climb the table.

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