Dimarco And Diouf Fire Inter Past Dortmund In Champions League Thriller

On a chilly night at Signal Iduna Park, the stakes couldn’t have been much higher for Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan as they squared off in the final league phase fixture of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League. Both teams entered the contest with playoff berths secured, but with automatic qualification for the last-16 still tantalizingly within reach, the tension was palpable from the opening whistle.

Inter Milan, led by head coach Cristian Chivu, came into the match under significant pressure. The Nerazzurri had stumbled through their last three European outings, dropping all nine available points against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Despite a dominant 6-2 victory over Pisa in Serie A, their continental form had been less than convincing. To make matters worse, Chivu lost midfield dynamo Nicolo Barella to injury just days before the trip to Germany, forcing a reshuffle in his starting eleven.

Chivu’s response? He handed starts to Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique, hoping that fresh legs and renewed energy would help Inter rediscover their early-season Champions League spark. Sucic, a 22-year-old Croatian midfielder, had featured in all six group matches but started only twice prior to this night. His recent return to form—highlighted by a stunning equalizer in the previous 3-1 home loss to Arsenal—earned him another chance in the engine room, alongside Piotr Zielinski and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. On the right, Luis Henrique continued to deputize for the injured Denzel Dumfries, even as Matteo Darmian returned to fitness.

Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, had their own headaches. Head coach Niko Kovač was without the suspended Svensson and the injured duo of Sabitzer and Süle. Their recent form included a thumping 3-0 Bundesliga win over Union Berlin, but inconsistency had left them 16th in the standings with 11 points from seven matches—just one behind Inter. The home side’s lineup featured Kobel in goal, a back three of Can, Schlotterbeck, and Mané, and a forward unit led by Serhou Guirassy.

The match itself unfolded as a tense, tactical chess game. Both sides knew a win could vault them into the top eight and a direct route to the last-16, while a loss or draw might leave their fate in the hands of others. Early on, Dortmund’s Guirassy found himself unmarked in the box following a corner, but his effort was straight at Inter keeper Yann Sommer. Inter’s Yann Bisseck responded at the other end, firing just inches wide in a rare first-half chance.

Neither side could find a breakthrough in the opening period, with both defenses holding firm and midfield battles proving fierce. Inter’s attack, led by Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, while Dortmund’s creative duo of Beier and Silva found little joy against Inter’s disciplined back three of Bisseck, Acerbi, and Akanji.

As the second half wore on, the urgency ramped up. Chivu, sensing the need for a spark, turned to his bench and introduced Francesco Pio Esposito. The young forward nearly made an instant impact, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini. It was a sign that Inter were beginning to find their rhythm—finally.

Then, in the 80th minute, came the moment that turned the match on its head. Federico Dimarco, Inter’s ever-reliable left-back, lined up a free-kick from 20 yards out. With the kind of confidence that only comes from hours of practice and a touch of magic, he curled the ball over the wall and beyond the outstretched arms of Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel. The away section erupted as Dimarco wheeled away in celebration, having delivered what could be a season-defining goal.

Dortmund, now trailing and desperate for a response, pushed forward in numbers. The German side’s home record in Europe—just one loss in their previous 21 matches at Signal Iduna Park—suggested they wouldn’t go quietly. Adeyemi and Guirassy pressed high, while Kovač introduced fresh legs from the bench. But Inter’s defense, marshaled by Sommer and Akanji, stood tall.

With Dortmund pouring bodies forward in stoppage time, disaster struck for the hosts. Karim Adeyemi lost possession deep in his own half, and Inter substitute Andy Diouf pounced. The French midfielder raced clear and coolly slotted home in the 94th minute, sealing a dramatic 2-0 victory for the visitors.

Yet, even with the three points secured, Inter’s celebrations were tempered by news from elsewhere. Chelsea’s win at Napoli and Sporting’s triumph over Athletic Club meant Chivu’s side finished 10th in the 36-team table—just outside the coveted top eight. As a result, Inter missed out on direct qualification for the last-16 but will be seeded in next month’s play-offs. Dortmund, finishing 17th, will enter the play-offs unseeded, setting up a challenging path ahead.

Reflecting on the match, Chivu praised his team’s resilience: “We needed a response after three difficult games, and the boys showed great character. Dimarco’s free-kick was world-class, and Diouf’s energy off the bench made the difference.” According to BBC Sport, “the meeting between the two former European champions proved to be a cagey affair, with both sides standing a chance to secure a place in the last-16.”

For Dortmund, the disappointment was clear. Guirassy’s missed chance early on loomed large, and the late defensive lapse compounded their frustration. Coach Kovač will need to rally his squad quickly, with the play-off tie looming large on the horizon.

This result capped a rollercoaster league phase for both clubs. Inter began their campaign with four straight wins, only to falter with three consecutive defeats before this hard-fought victory. Dortmund’s own journey was marked by highs and lows, their fortress-like home record ultimately not enough to secure automatic progression.

As the dust settles, both teams know the real work starts now. The play-offs await, with Inter hoping that the momentum from this dramatic win can propel them further, while Dortmund look to regroup and defy the odds as unseeded challengers. For now, fans of both sides can only wonder what twists and turns the Champions League knockout rounds will bring this year.