Marko Arnautovic helps Inter Milan beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League Last 16

Arnautovic replaced the injured Marcus Thuram at half-time and redeemed himself after missing a couple of golden chances by scoring the winning goal eleven minutes from time.

New Delhi: Marko Arnautovic came off the bench on Tuesday to help Inter Milan to a 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Arnautovic replaced the injured Marcus Thuram at half-time and redeemed himself after missing a few golden chances by scoring the winning goal eleven minutes from time.

“I'm sorry for Marcus, I never want a player to get injured,” Arnautovic told Italian broadcaster Mediaset. “These are my opportunities, I'm here to make a difference. It is not an easy period for me, but the third chance came.”

Initial reports were that Thuram injured a muscle in his right thigh and Inter will be hoping to get France back for the second leg in Madrid on March 13.

“The hope is to get rid of him (Thuram) for a short period of time,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said after praising Arnautovic.

“He will be very valuable to us, just like he has been so far. We were obviously disappointed with the chances he missed, but strikers should be concerned when they don't get chances. “I was an attacker, there were times when I didn't get chances and I was a lot more worried than when I had them and didn't manage to finish them.”

Inter extended their perfect record to nine wins this year, while it was a third defeat in four games for Atlético.

The Spanish team did not have a single shot on target at San Siro but will hope they can learn lessons from the return at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

“I am of course optimistic. We still have the opportunity to fight,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “We know what to expect, we know how they play – we just played them – and I hope we can take our chance.”

PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 in the other match on Tuesday.

Inter were a surprise finalist in the Champions League last year but appear to have gone one level higher since then and look set to win the Serie A title after building a nine-point lead – and with a game in hand.

It was a cagey first half at San Siro, until Inter seemed to wake up nine minutes before half-time.

Neither goalkeeper was really tested before Lautaro Martínez, who had fired a good opportunity over the crossbar moments earlier, saw his header smothered by Jan Oblak.

Lautaro had an even better chance two minutes later when Thuram made a quick run and rolled across in front of the Argentina World Cup winner, but he pushed his shot away and it was deflected backwards off Atlético defender José María Giménez.

Thuram also had a chance just before half time, but had his effort saved by Oblak and then immediately went down with a problem.

The Inter forward, who has emerged as a key player for the Nerazzurri since joining in the off-season, was able to continue after treatment but left at half-time shaking his head. His father, former Parma and Juventus defender Lilian Thuram, was watching at San Siro.

Arnautovic could have made an immediate impact when he slid in and met Federico Dimarco's cross, but it flew over the bar. Later he fired another effort narrowly after lush play with Lautaro.

Álvaro Morata was brought on by Atlético in the 54th minute, making his return from injury earlier than expected and immediately setting up Lino, but his shot went wide of the left post.

The visitors had an even better chance moments later when Marcos Llorente was sent through on goal, but Inter defender Stefan de Vrij managed to get back in time for a last-ditch tackle.

Inter increased the pressure and eventually broke the deadlock when Lautaro surged forward and although Oblak managed to parry his effort, Arnautovic drilled home the rebound.