Rodrygo’s late strike gave Real Madrid victory over Inter Milan – their first Champions League win of the season. Real looked in control when Karim Benzema rounded Samir Handanovic to put them ahead and Sergio Ramos headed in his 100th goal for the club.
But moments later Lautaro Martinez scored from Nicolo Barella’s backheel pass and Ivan Perisic levelled with a composed finish from a Martinez header.
However, Rodrygo was Real’s hero with a powerful effort from Vinicius Jr’s pass.
Real are level on four points with second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, one point behind leaders Borussia Monchengladbach. Inter are bottom on two points.
Gladbach thrashed Shakhtar 6-0, with Alassane Plea scoring a hat-trick, with his first three Champions League goals.
Real Madrid, European champions for a record 13 times, were bottom of the group after losing 3-2 to Shakhtar and drawing 2-2 with Gladbach.
They were without a win in four Champions League matches including last season’s last-16 elimination by Manchester City.
At one stage it looked as though they were going to have a comfortable night at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium at their training base, which remains their temporary home while the Bernabeu is being redeveloped.
Achraf Hakimi’s terrible backpass, against the team he left in the summer, let Benzema round the Inter keeper before opening the lead.
Ramos then headed in a landmark goal for Real from Toni Kroos’ corner. That was his 55th headed goal and he becomes only the 19th player to reach a century of Real goals.
But that 2-0 lead only lasted two minutes as Martinez scored from a brilliant flicked assist from Barella, who also hit the bar with a header.
It was Martinez who provided Perisic with the ball to level in the first half, and at that stage Inter looked the more likely winners with Martinez curling just wide and Perisic flashing a shot the wrong side of the post.
But Real’s substitutes combined as Vinicius Jr picked out Rodrygo for a thunderous winner.
Now it is the turn of Inter to sit bottom of the group without a win. Antonio Conte’s side have only won one of their past seven games in all competitions.
Follow us on:
