Atlético Madrid secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League league phase on Wednesday, thanks to José María Giménez's dramatic stoppage-time header that sent the Metropolitano Stadium into ecstasy and handed the Nerazzurri their first defeat of the competition. The result, Atlético's first home win in the new format, propelled Diego Simeone's side to 12th place with 10 points from five matches, while Inter slipped to fourth with 12 points, intensifying their path to automatic last-16 qualification.

The game started at a frenetic pace with Inter, unbeaten in four prior CL fixtures, dominating early through Federico Dimarco's threatening set pieces. Atlético's stand-in goalkeeper Juan Musso, deputizing for the injured Jan Oblak, produced a superb save to tip Dimarco's free kick over the bar before the Italian curled another effort just wide. Despite the pressure, it was the hosts who struck first in the 28th minute when Julián Álvarez pounced on a deflection to drill home from close range—a goal initially flagged for handball against Alex Baena but upheld after VAR review confirmed it struck his stomach.

Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu in his first major European test after a derby loss to AC Milan, responded assertively after halftime. Nicolò Barella nearly equalized by lofting the ball onto the crossbar from a clever first touch, but they did level in the 54th minute through Piotr Zieliński, who swept in Ange-Yoan Bonny's precise cut-back to ignite hopes of a comeback. The visitors, missing Denzel Dumfries and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, controlled possession but faded as Atlético's midfield gained traction, with Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sørloth testing Yann Sommer.

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The turning point came in the third minute of added time when Griezmann's inswinging corner found Giménez unmarked at the far post, the Uruguayan defender rising to power a header past Sommer for his first goal of the season. "It was a goal for all my loved ones, for my family and friends who never stopped believing in me," Giménez said post-match, dedicating the strike to those who stood by him through tough times. Simeone, who once played for Inter, called it a "much-needed win" that reignites belief in direct qualification, with upcoming fixtures against PSV, Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt offering a clearer path.

For Chivu, the defeat stung deeply: "It hurts because we came fired up to do more than go home empty-handed." Inter's remaining slate—hosting Liverpool and Arsenal before facing Borussia Dortmund—now demands near-perfection to avoid the playoff round. Álvarez's 10th goal across all competitions underscored his importance to Atlético, while Bonny's assist highlighted Inter's attacking promise amid defensive lapses.

This clash, pitting Simeone's resilient counter-attacking ethos against Chivu's fluid Italian style, encapsulated the league phase's unpredictability. Atlético's late surge not only avenged a 1-0 loss to Inter in last season's round of 16 but also breathed new life into their European campaign, proving that in the high-stakes world of the modern Champions League, drama—and defenders scoring headers—remains the great equalizer.

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