Real rekindle last-16 hopes with 3-2 make an impression on Inter
Real Madrid boosted their likelihood of achieving the Champions League knockout stages after a late winner by substitute Rodrygo gave them a 3-2 home victory over Inter Milan within an absorbing Group B clash on Tuesday.
The effect left Real, winners of a record 13 titles in Europe's premier club competition, level on four points with Shakhtar Donetsk, one point behind leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach and two before bottom placed Inter.
Real had disposed of a two-goal lead and were flirting with a defeat which could have piled more pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane before their Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined to save lots of the day.
Chances had opted begging at either end before Karim Benzema gave the house side a 25th-minute lead, rounding goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and slotting home after intercepting a dreadful back pass by Real's former wing-back Achraf Hakimi.
The hosts seemed to be cruising after 33 minutes when Sergio Ramos headed their second -- his 100th goal for the club in every competitions -- but Lautaro Martinez pulled one back for Inter two minutes later thanks to a sublime assist by Nicolo Barella.
Real were rattled when Ivan Perisic equalised midway through the next half, threading a go in to the far corner from close range after Martinez headed the ball in to the Croatian's stride.
Inter then missed some gilt-edged chances as Martinez shaved the exterior of the post with a go from the edge of the area and Perisic fired wide, with Real's defence in tatters.
The Italians were punished because of their misses, however, as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, brought in to the fray together by Zidane shortly before Inter's equaliser, carved out the winner from a lightning fast break.
Vinicius Junior raced free from his marker down the left flank and squared the ball back to Rodrygo, who beat Handanovic with an unstoppable shot in to the top corner from 10 metres.
Inter are now under pressure halfway through the group stage to carefully turn their fortunes around and can hope to have striker Romelu Lukaku back for the reverse fixture on Nov. 25 following the Belgium striker missed the match with a thigh injury.
