Real Madrid achieved a hard-fought victory against Inter Milan on Champions League Matchday 1 in what was a challenging away fixture at the San Siro, nonetheless. The men in White started slow, uncharacteristic of Ancelotti-ball. However, the second half saw a much-rejuvenated start and Real had more of the clearer chances as they looked like the team who’d score first in Milan.
Carlo Ancelotti again made headway with his changes. He started Lucas Vazquez in attack and there were question marks on the call. He was the same usual, a very hardworking presence on the pitch yet at the same time managed to frustrate those watching the game with his silly giveaways. In the end, the show was all about Don Carlo’s second-half substitutes who breathed in new life to an otherwise lethargic looking Real Madrid.
Once again among the headlines was Real Madrid’s latest signing Eduardo Camavinga, who just had ten minutes to make a mark and he didn’t disappoint. A combination play between Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga was enough to set Rodrygo Goes up for the winner. The young Brazilian again was a second-half substitute brought on for Lucas Vazquez in the 66th minute.
The 18-year-old French prodigy now has one goal and one assist off the bench in his first two appearances for Los Blancos. The second match was also his Champions League debut for Real Madrid. So, Camavinga’s dream run of debuts continues thus far. Every single fan here should take a moment and appreciate what a fine talent this young man is. Real Madrid might just have hit the jackpot on the deadline day.
Real Madrid looked lethargic on the ball in the first half with Inter dominating possession and controlling play. The second half improved by great degrees when Real could finally gain a fair share of possession and create half chances. In a team studded with big names, it was ultimately the youngsters who put in that extra shift to find a winner. And, that is thoroughly satisfying for a fan to see the future stars of the club shining bright.
Eduardo Camavinga stepped up in the clutch for Real Madrid
After waves of attacks on both ends and Inter mostly relying on counters whenever they recovered the ball, Real finally produced that touch of brilliance in the 89th minute. Nacho, Vinicius Junior, Fede Valverde were all involved in the move as Camavinga and Valverde played a quick one-two before the new signing rushed into the box spotting a clear bit of space open up, a type of run very characteristic of the Frenchman as I discussed earlier.
Fede was quick to launch a ball over the defense. Camavinga had decent space in front of him and any other player might have looked to take an extra touch and set himself up for a shot or a pass to a better-placed teammate. But, the fact that it only took a fraction of a second for him to spot Rodrygo’s run and launch a first-time cushioning pass to the Brazilian shows what Camavinga is made of. He judged the urgency of the situation perfectly and it was hard to believe he was 18 and just at his second appearance for the Royal White club.
Rodrygo made no mistake and produced the very touch required to send it past Samir Handanovic, guarding the Nerazzurri goal, on a half-volley. An 89th-minute winner, talk about late drama, talk about youngsters stepping up. It had it all and the reactions of Don Carlo and his assisting staff on the bench said it all. Real Madrid continued their dominance on Inter as they took all three points once again off the Italian Champions and made a perfect start to their European campaign.