Bayer Leverkusen dominated the match from the start, exerting their dominance in the first half. They came close to scoring in the 3rd minute after Nigerian international Nathan Tella volleyed Jeremie Frimpong’s cross onto the woodwork.

Exequiel Palacios troubled Inter’s goal in the 27th minute with a shot from just outside the box, but a slight deflection kept the score goalless. Bayer Leverkusen felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Florian Wirtz was brought down in the box by Bisseck, but the referee ignored their appeals. Two minutes later, Wirtz found himself in space to take a shot from inside the box, but Yann Sommer’s fine save prevented the ball from going in.

Bayer Leverkusen continued to hold possession in the 2nd half but failed to show enough threat going forward. Xabi Alonso’s tactical substitution in the 83rd minute would make the difference, as Martin Terrier was brought in to replace Tella.
Bayer Leverkusen would later go on to snatch the three points through a late goal from Mukiele. Alejandro Grimaldo crossed to Terrier, who missed his shot, but it fell to Mukiele, who fired it past Sommer.

The win put Leverkusen 2nd on the Champions League table, level on points with Inter Milan, who sits 4th. After the match, Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso praised Mukiele’s ability and resilience.

“Everything takes time,” Alonso said. “Nordi is adapting better and better. He had an injury, but he can now give us a lot of quality that we’ve been missing in that area. He knows the Bundesliga, has competed in the Champions League, and has done really well in big games. The goal is the highlight, but there are a lot of good things behind the highlight, and we need to keep pushing him.”