CF Monterrey vs Inter Milan
Box office. A Liga MX side standing tall against this year’s Champions League finalists. Led by none other than Sergio Ramos himself. Winding back the clock ten years with that header. Flashbacks to that famous night in Lisbon, except this time we were in Los Angeles. All the flowers for the Spaniard after an imposing performance at the Rose Bowl. Privileged to get to see him at the twilight of his career and still giving us flashes of brilliance. A result that invites all North American teams to dream. Why not us?
Photography by: Lorena Barros
In a battle between one of Europe’s heavyweights and a determined Mexican side, CF Monterrey held UEFA Champions League runners-up Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw in their FIFA Club World Cup opener at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday night.
The match, which marked the managerial debuts of Inter’s Cristian Chivu and Monterrey’s Domènec Torrent, was a tightly contested affair, with veteran Sergio Ramos and Inter’s Lautaro Martínez providing the decisive goals.
Sergio Ramos, a four-time winner of this competition with Real Madrid, delivered a standout performance for Monterrey. The 39-year-old captain broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a towering header from a corner, sending the pro-Mexican crowd into raptures. Ramos’ leadership and defensive prowess set the tone for Los Rayados, who showed resilience against a dominant Inter side.
"It was a very tough match against a Champions League finalist," Ramos said post-match. "We played them toe-to-toe and stayed focused throughout."
Inter, eager to shake off the sting of their recent Champions League final loss to PSG, struggled to capitalize on their 62% possession. However, they found their breakthrough in the 42nd minute through Martínez. The Argentine striker tapped in a perfectly placed cross from Carlos Augusto, capping off a well-executed set piece initiated by Kristjan Asllani.
Chivu, starting his tenure at Inter, fielded a mixed lineup featuring both young talent and seasoned veterans. Sebastiano Esposito, returning from multiple loan spells, started up front but was replaced in the second half by Marcus Thuram. Despite these adjustments, Inter couldn’t find the winning goal.
Monterrey nearly regained the lead in the second half when Sergio Canales’ curling strike rattled the post. Late substitute Nelson Deossa also had a golden opportunity to clinch victory in stoppage time, but his shot found the side netting.
Inter had their chances as well, with Martínez’s 68th-minute goal ruled offside and the striker later missing another close-range effort.
"We need to be more clinical in front of goal," Inter’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan said. "We created chances but couldn’t convert them."
The draw leaves both teams chasing Group E leaders River Plate, who defeated Urawa Red Diamonds 3-1 earlier in the day. Monterrey will face the Argentine giants next at the Rose Bowl, while Inter travel to Seattle to take on Urawa Reds.
For Chivu, the match highlighted areas for improvement. "It’s a new competition, and we have to adapt quickly," he said. "The second half showed some positives, but we need to find that killer instinct."
Despite the result, Monterrey’s spirited performance, anchored by Ramos, sent a clear message: Los Rayados are not in this tournament merely to make up the numbers. As the tournament unfolds, both sides will aim to turn potential into points.
