Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw by Monterrey in their Club World Cup opener on Tuesday night, marking the Italian side’s first match since their Champions League final defeat. Veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos opened the scoring with a spectacular first-half header, delighting the pro-Mexico crowd at the Rose Bowl in Southern California. The goal came during Monterrey coach Domènec Torrent’s debut and was the team’s only shot on target.
Inter responded in the 42nd minute when Lautaro Martínez tapped in an equalizer following a slick set-piece sequence finished by Carlos Augusto’s low cross. Martínez later had a second goal ruled out for offside in the 68th minute. Despite dominating possession with 62%, Inter couldn’t find a winner. Both teams had close chances in the final minutes, and Martínez received a yellow card in stoppage time.
Cristian Chivu made his managerial debut for Inter, fielding only seven players from Simone Inzaghi’s Champions League final lineup. Striker Marcus Thuram came off the bench in the second half to replace Sebastiano Esposito, who was making his first Inter start since 2020 after returning from a series of loan spells.
Ramos, 39, joined Monterrey four months ago and showcased his enduring class with the goal. He’s set to throw out the first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers game on Wednesday. The result leaves both teams in contention to advance from Group E, which also includes River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds. Although Inter dominated possession, Monterrey nearly snatched a dramatic winner in stoppage time. Substitute Nelson Deossa found space inside the box but fired into the side netting, sparing new Inter head coach Cristian Chivu a losing start.
The Club World Cup signals a new chapter for both sides. Chivu stepped in following Simone Inzaghi’s exit after Inter’s crushing 5-0 Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Monterrey are also under fresh management, with former Manchester City assistant Domènec Torrent taking the helm after a disappointing start to their domestic campaign.