Nordi Mukiele’s Dramatic 90th-Minute Strike Seals Vital Victory for Bayer Leverkusen Over Inter Milan

Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan was always going to be a tightly contested affair with two of the sharpest tactical minds in Europe going up against each other. But this wasn’t just a clash of two talented coaches or teams—it was a strategic chess match. Both sides traded spells of dominance, meticulously probing for openings, as they sought to land the decisive blow and claim a pivotal victory.

Leverkusen have been grabbing the spotlight with a string of commanding performances, none more eye-catching than their 5-0 demolition of Salzburg in the Champions League. On the domestic front, Xabi Alonso’s men have been nothing short of relentless. They’ve not only closed the gap on Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga but also delivered a massive statement by knocking out Bayern from the DfB Pokal. Meanwhile, Inter Milan have been just as impressive. The Italian giants are riding a 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, showcasing consistency and resilience in equal measure. In the Champions League, their defensive record has been nothing short of extraordinary—they’ve yet to concede a single goal. Their most recent triumph, a gritty 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig, saw them climb to second place in the league phase standings.  

Despite their standing on the UCL table, it was expected that Bayer Leverkusen would make all the attacking in-roads, and that’s how the early exchanges turned out. In just the third minute, Die Werkself had a golden opportunity to breach Inter’s water-tight defense. Jeremie Frimpong got in behind the Inter defense and delivered a lovely cross to Nathan Tella, whose shot cannoned out of the crossbar. Leverkusen continued to probe, and Alejandro Grimaldo tested Yann Sommer twice in quick succession. But despite Bayer attacking endeavors, the game evolved into a cagey chess match with very few scoring opportunities to speak about.  

Xabi Alonso’s side dominated possession, leaving Inter Milan to lean heavily on their set-piece prowess as their best shot at finding the net. And when you have Hakan Calhanoglu, one of the finest set-piece specialists in Europe, you always stand a chance. In the 28th minute, the Turkish maestro delivered an absolute gem of a cross, finding Davide Frattesi in the box. But the midfielder’s header sailed high and wide, much to the frustration of the Nerazzurri faithful. Calhanoglu wasn’t done orchestrating, though. He created Inter’s most tantalizing opportunity to break the deadlock just before halftime. In the 39th minute, he sent in a wickedly curling corner, and Alessandro Bastoni climbed above everyone to meet it. His header, however, narrowly missed the mark—agonizingly close to handing Inter a crucial lead. Despite these flashes of brilliance, the first half ended in a stalemate, with both sides trudging into the locker rooms on level term. 

Following the break, Die Werkself came out with renewed attacking vigor. Just seven minutes into the second half, Jeremie Frimpong came agonizingly close to giving Bayer Leverkusen the lead. However, intense pressure from Alessandro Bastoni forced the Dutchman to drag his shot wide of the post. Bayer continued to pile on the pressure, and in the 64th minute, captain Jonathan Tah unleashed a speculative effort that missed the target by mere inches. Inter’s defense, the best in the Champions League this season, held strong under the relentless onslaught from Leverkusen. But while their backline was heroic, the same couldn’t be said for their attack. The Nerazzurri lacked any cutting edge, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. 

As the game entered its final moments, it seemed like Inter’s resolute defense might secure them a valuable point. Yet football has a knack for late drama, and the 90th minute delivered just that. Substitute Martin Terrier found himself in prime position but misfired on Alex Grimaldo’s cross. Fortunately for Bayer, Nordi Mukiele was there to pounce, slamming the ball home for the decisive goal. With time running out, Inter scrambled for an equalizer but couldn’t find a way past Leverkusen’s defense. The final whistle confirmed a massive victory for Xabi Alonso’s men, propelling them to second place in the Champions League standings with only two matches remaining. For Inter, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Their vaunted defense, unbreached in the tournament until this match, finally cracked, and the Nerazzurri dropped from second to fourth in the table.