Although a good result for the Nerazurri, they still have a huge task against Los Rojiblancos at the second leg scheduled for the Wanda Metropolitano on March 13.
Having won all eight competitive games in 2024, the Nerazzurri went into this tie full of confidence. But they could only score one against their Spanish visitors, who would give them a run for their money in the second leg.
As a mark of respect for Scudetto winner Andy Brehme, who died on Tuesday at the age of 63, the hosts wore black armbands, and there was a moment’s silence before the commencement of the game.
Inter got a chance via Marcus Thuram, but his first touch let him down on an early Nicolò Barella roll across.
Samuel Lino curled his effort wide, and a Lautaro Martinez volley was deflected onto Nahuel Molina’s arm in a position the referee considered natural. So, there was no need to visit the VAR for further check.
Thuram, since his move to Inter, has gelled with Lautaro Martinez. The Frenchman nodded down a long ball for Martinez, whose half-volley went over the bar.
Inter got the first genuine shot on target in 36 minutes as Lautaro’s glancing header from a Barella cross was smothered by Jan Oblak.
Inter failed to take their chance when Thuram intercepted a wayward pass and rolled across for Lautaro Martinez, who, clear on goal, took a touch and scuffed the finish horribly.
Through another promising counter, the host saw Barella combine with Thuram, only for the Frenchman to drill from the edge of the area; again, Oblak was right behind it.
Unfortunately, it became the French striker’s last action as he got injured himself during that move.
Thuram pulled up with a right adductor issue and was replaced at half-time by Marko Arnautovic, while Atleti introduced Stefan Savic for Jose Maria Gimenez.
Arnautovic was presented with a considerable chance when Federico Dimarco rolled across from the left and came sliding in to fire over from 12 yards.
The Austrian veteran also missed another sitter when he nodded a Matteo Darmian cross over, which was perhaps intended for Dimarco.
After being in the backfoot, Atleti got two big scoring opportunities with Lino wide after a give-and-go with Rodrigo De Paul. Stefan de Vrij returned for a decisive tackle on Marcos Llorente, bearing down on Yann Sommer.
Arnautovic again missed a sitter when he combined with Lautaro Martinez to go clear on goal only to fire over from six yards.
After failing to get the tap-in on a Denzel Dumfries roll across the six-yard box, the Austrian took one the chance to register his Champions League goal.
Lautaro Martinez also nodded the Hakan Calhanoglu cross into Oblak’s arms.
Inter would eventually break the deadlock with 10 minutes to go. A throw-in was not dealt with by Reinaldo, and Davide Frattesi allowed Martinez to surge forward, his effort parried by Oblak, but only into the path of Arnautovic to score from a narrow-angle, despite Lino’s attempts to clear off the line.
Lino hit a scorcher inches wide of the near post, while Alvaro Morata’s header was wide under pressure from De Vrij.
The ex-Juventus striker also scuffed a finish after Sommer’s error.
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