Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter Milan: Late drama at the Allianz gives Italian giants advantage
A well-fought and well-contested game of football saw Inter claim a hard-fought victory away from home in the Champions League.
Inter will take a one goal advantage back to the San Siro after a well-drilled performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Simone Inzaghi's side took the lead with their first shot on target, Lautaro Martinez's wonderful finish and goal against the run of play.
Bayern pushed for an equaliser in the second half and introduced several attacking substitutes, one of whom was Thomas Muller, who scored a great goal to level the scores.
But it was Davide Frattesi who broke Bayern's hearts and won it at the last moment for his team. He defended tremendously and fought for a tough win.
Bayern must stay focused ahead of a famous meeting against Dortmund on Saturday, as they look to stay top of the Bundesliga.
Inter are also fighting for their league title, and will welcome Cagliari at home before a second meeting with Die Roten next week.
Story of the match
With both sides having a similar recent form, and both pushing for the title in their respective leagues, this match looked like a fascinating one on paper.
The pairing was a repeat of the 2010 final, where Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan defeated Louis van Gaal's Bayern Munich - Diego Milito scoring a brace to secure a historic treble for the Nerazzurri.
Injuries had troubled current Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany, who was without several first-team players, including Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, and Jamal Musiala.
Inter had more favourable luck and fielded a full-strength eleven, except for the wingbacks. Matteo Darmian came in for the injured Denzel Dumfries, while Carlos Augusto was preferred to Federico Dimarco, who could only make the bench.
This week's big news came from Thomas Muller, who announced his departure from Bayern after spending nearly twenty-five years at the club. Kompany opted to leave the midfielder on the bench for this match, with full-back Raphael Guerreiro tried in his place.
Bayern fans were in loud voice from the first whistle, desperate to see their team progress to the final. The home stand was bouncing, with a banner reading 'Kings of the Cup' - a fair statement, given that Bayern hold the most European titles of any German club.
The Bavarians had some early attacking chances, but they would be given a real test by Inter, who had conceded only twice in the competition so far. Michael Olise had a pair of long-range efforts, while Yann Sommer was well-positioned to collect a Harry Kane header after a nice move down Inter's left.
With some proactive pressing high up the pitch by Bayern, the Italian side were having difficulty playing out from the back - often finding themselves short of attacking numbers while attempting to counter quickly.
Olise was on top form in the opening twenty-five minutes, always finding himself with space on the wing. He danced through Inter's defence before finding Kane on the opposite side - his curled chance striking the post in Bayern's best chance of the game so far.
At the other end, Carlos Augusto had an effort rifle into the side netting, after a wonderful fluid move by Inter. Inzaghi's side may not have been as relentless in attack, but they were neat and organised whenever they had the ball whilst remaining compact and patient in defence.
Their patience was rewarded as Lautaro Martinez fired home from close range, shocking the Allianz Arena.
It was a world-class finish: an outside of the boot curler that dumbfounded the goalkeeper, set up nicely by strike partner Marcus Thuram after Augusto had delivered a dangerous cross into the box.
As half-time approached, Bayern were not too fazed by going a goal behind, but would need to up their intensity further if they hoped to get something out of this game.
Pushing for an equaliser
There was certainly an added physicality to the home side as they begun the second half, looking to nullify their passing threat through the middle of the pitch.
Inter were also turning things up a notch, with a an added quickness and directness to their forward play - culminating in a few half-chances for Thuram and Martinez.
Deafening chants filled the stadium as Bayern had a positive spell of possession in Inter's half. There were several good crosses into the danger area - with Raphael Guerreiro having the best effort with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
With a goal needed, Kompany called on Thomas Muller from the bench, alongside Serge Gnabry, in the hopes of adding some character to the team in the final fifteen minutes.
Gnabry was an instant danger, striking the side netting with his first attempt on goal - but Bayern eventually found their equaliser through Muller, who found himself unmarked at the back post and turned in Konrad Laimer's well-positioned cross. It just had to be him!
But just minutes later, Inter retook their lead through Davide Frattesi - the substitute catching his opponents out on a quick break and sneaking his shot past Sommer, winning it at the death in dramatic fashion.
It was well worked by Inter, who had defended intensely for large parts of the second half. Frattesi's shirtless celebration sums up the passion shown by the Italian side as they fought hard to pick up an important win.
They survived a late push by Bayern - Harry Kane coming the closest with a blocked shot from close range, the striker not having any luck in this game.
Kompany will be frustrated, and will hope to motivate his side when they travel to Milan for a crucial second leg.
Player of the match - Michael Olise
The Frenchman was a constant danger in the first half with two testing shots on goal, not to mention some great vision to pick out Harry Kane - who arguably should have got Bayern on the scoresheet with his effort.
Given Inter's stellar defensive record, and their ability to gang up on attackers and snuff out most attacks, Olise did tremendously well to find gaps and space to create chances for his team.
Fulltime Observations
This one stings. Thomas Müller looked like the savior but Bayern immediately conceded the game winner. Sacha Boey simply cannot be on the pitch for Bayern anymore.
After dominating the first 30 minutes, Bayern was shellshocked until the substitutes entered the match. Bayern was tentative in possession, reactive in defense, and mundane in attack. Even when players made the proper runs (namely Josip Stanišić), they were ignored in favor of a less ambitious pass.
Inter was brutally efficient with their two chances. Following Martinez’s goal, Inter was content to go through the motions without committing numbers forward. Inter’s defense kept its shape and there was rarely operating space in the final third for Bayern.
It needs to be said: Harry Kane was abysmal tonight. If his ankle was not fit, he should have been on the bench. Hitting the post in the 26th minute was brutal but at least he was in the correct position. His lack of movement and forward play completely neutered the attacking threat and made life too simple for the opposing defense.
Is Bayern already eliminated? Absolutely not. Inter’s conservative style will allow Bayern the opportunity to recover the one-goal deficit with a single moment of brilliance in the second leg.
Halftime Observations
Both teams have exhibited disciplined defense in man-marking. The fluid rotations have made build-up play labored and difficult.
Michael Olise and Leroy Sané have been given more liberty this match to cut inside on the through balls from the back. Yann Sommer has thwarted everything but Vincent Kompany should insist that both wingers keep attacking Inter’s backline with these types of runs.
Kompany opted to start Raphaël Guerreiro over Thomas Müller. Neither player has wowed this season, but Müller’s orchestration skills would be invaluable against Inter. Thus far, Guerreiro has been fine but nothing spectacular.
Inter’s goal shows why they are such a dangerous team. Bayern failed to close down properly and Inter had three immaculate touches.
Bayern was the better team in the first half but need to solve the Sommer enigma quickly to get back in this game.
For the first time in history, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan will clash in the Champions League quarterfinal stage. The first leg will be played in Munich this week and the second leg will be played in Milan next Wednesday, April 16.
Bayern and Inter have previously competed twice in the group stage (2006 and 2022), twice in the Round of 16 (1988 and 2011), and in the 2010 final where Inter claimed the trophy with a 2-0 victory. Bayern holds a slight edge with five wins, one draw, and three losses. With the 2010 win, Inter became the first Italian or German team to win the treble. Bayern has won the treble twice (2013 and 2020) since that loss in Madrid.
Bayern is currently in first place of the Bundesliga, six points clear of Leverkusen. Inter is currently in first place of Serie A, three points ahead of Napoli. Inter finished fourth in the Champions League group stage then defeated Feyenoord twice in the Round of 16.
Odds: Bayern (-110), Draw (+260), Inter (+280)
Prediction: Bayern draws, 1-1. Both teams will play conservatively in the first half, feeling each other out and looking for strategic holes. Early in the second half, Konrad Laimer will overlap Michael Olise but Olise will cross to Thomas Müller. Müller will head the ball back to Harry Kane to give Bayern the lead. Inter will press hard for the next 15 minutes and eventually Lautaro Martínez will beat Kim Min-jae and even the score. Both teams will be content with the draw headed into the second leg.
It’s Bayern time.
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