Inter Milan grabbed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Allianz Arena, thanks to a late strike from Davide Frattesi that silenced the home crowd and ended Bayern's 22-match unbeaten home run in the competition.
Bayern started brightly, dominating the opening half hour with relentless pressure. Michael Olise, who was lively throughout, carved through Inter’s defence on several occasions and stung the palms of Yann Sommer early on. Harry Kane, seeking his first Champions League title, had the best chance of the half but curled his shot against the post after a brilliant cut-back from Olise.
Despite Bayern's control, it was Inter who struck first. In the 38th minute, a slick team move caught Bayern off guard. Lautaro Martinez played the ball wide to Carlos Augusto, whose driven cross was met with a clever back-heel from Marcus Thuram. Martinez continued his run and finished with an exquisite outside-of-the-boot strike into the roof of the net, a moment of pure class from the Argentine.
In the second half, Bayern tried hard to score an equalising goal, but Inter’s solid defence one of the best in this European tournament – strongly protected the goal. Bayern’s young goalkeeper, Jonas Urbig, saved a dangerous shot that Martinez was about to score, making a great save. On the other hand, Raphael Guerreiro also came close to scoring, but his shot went just over the crossbar.
With Bayern running out of time, veteran Thomas Muller came off the bench and delivered what seemed to be a crucial equaliser in the 85th minute. Muller, who recently announced his departure from Bayern after 25 years at the club, tapped home from close range after a pinpoint cross from Konrad Laimer.
However, Inter were not done. Just three minutes later, Augusto surged down the right and delivered a perfect cross to Frattesi, who calmly turned the ball past Urbig to restore Inter’s lead. The Italian side held firm in the dying moments to secure a vital away win.
The defeat marked Bayern's first Champions League home loss since April 2021 and leaves them facing a steep uphill task in the second leg at the San Siro on 16 April. Their hopes of lifting the trophy on home soil, with the final set for 31 May at the Allianz Arena, now hang in the balance.
Inter’s performance was a testament to their mental strength and tactical discipline. Coach Simone Inzaghi praised his side’s courage and composure, noting, “It’s only halftime in the tie. We’ll need to finish the job in Milan.”
Martinez’s goal his seventh of the campaign and Inter’s defensive steel once again showcased why they are serious contenders. For Bayern, the focus now shifts to regrouping ahead of the second leg, with hopes of overturning the narrow deficit and keeping their Champions League dream alive.
Post a Comment