In a historic match on Wednesday night, Inter Milan's women's team achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in club history. The decisive moment came after a gripping second leg of the qualifiers against Wolfsburg, where Inter overcame a two-goal deficit to win 5-4 on penalties in Milan.
The match began with Inter facing an uphill battle after losing the first leg 2-0 on August 26. However, the Italian side showed remarkable resilience. Fullback Elisa Bartoli ignited hope for Inter by scoring in the 39th minute, leveling the aggregate score. Forward Elisa Polli then equalized the match in the 84th minute, forcing the game into extra time.
Wolfsburg, who were the 2023 Champions League finalists, regained the lead in the 111th minute when midfielder Weronika Araśniewicz managed to slot the ball past Inter's goalkeeper, Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir. Just as it seemed that Wolfsburg would secure their place in the league phase, Inter's center back Marija Ana Milinković struck back with a powerful half-volley in the 121st minute, once again leveling the score and sending the match to penalties.
During the penalty shootout, both teams displayed impressive composure, successfully converting their first four attempts. However, the tide turned when Wolfsburg's Mara Alber stepped up for the fifth penalty. Rúnarsdóttir made a crucial save, denying Alber and giving Inter the opportunity to clinch victory. Ivana Andrés, another center back for Inter, confidently converted the final penalty, sealing the match and securing Inter's place in the Champions League.
With this victory, Inter Milan joins fellow Italian clubs Roma and Juventus in the 18-team league phase of the Champions League. This marks a significant achievement for the club, as they prepare for their debut on the European stage. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg faces the disappointment of an early exit, a stark contrast to their recent performances in the tournament.
Wolfsburg's recent history in the Champions League has been tumultuous. After reaching the final in the previous season but losing 3-2 to Barcelona, they now find themselves out of contention for the upcoming tournament. This is particularly surprising given their strong performances in past campaigns, including a quarterfinal appearance in the 2024-25 season, where they were eliminated by Barcelona, and a similar fate in the 2025-26 season against OL Lyonnes.
The elimination of Wolfsburg also means that Bayern Munich remains the only representative from the Frauen Bundesliga in this year’s Champions League, following Eintracht Frankfurt's exit after a loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern qualified automatically for the league phase alongside other prominent clubs such as Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, and Arsenal.
The fixtures for the league phase will be drawn on Friday, marking the next step for Inter Milan as they prepare to compete at the highest level of women's club football.
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