Date: April 16, 2025
Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), Milan, Italy
Final Score: Inter Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich (Aggregate: 4-3)
Attendance: 75,389
Referee: Michael Oliver
Match Overview
The San Siro stadium hosted an exciting UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match where Inter Milan fought Bayern Munich to draw 2-2 thus advancing to the semifinals with their combined score of 4-3. Inter maintained their original 2-1 advantage from the first match by displaying courageous tactics throughout a Bayern Munich offensive attack. When Lautaro Martínez and Benjamin Pavard scored during the game Inter advanced to the next round while Harry Kane and Eric Dier scored for Bayern who continued to hunt down the result until full-time. Inter will play Barcelona in the semi-finals while they recover memories of winning their first-ever treble in 2010.
First Half: Defensive Resilience Amid a Cagey Affair
Early Sparring and Tactical Discipline
A deafening crowd at San Siro Stadium supported Inter Milan through the match versus Bayern Munich since the visitors remained steadfast to their one-goal deficit. Manager Simone Inzaghi chose the same starting eleven from the 2-1 Munich victory to face the next opponent in the semi-finals. Federico Dimarco operated as a wing-back while Alessandro Bastoni positioned at the left-side of the defensive back three. Due to injuries affecting Manuel Neuer Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies Bayern Munich relied on Harry Kane to provide goal-scoring power and Thomas Mueller to provide experience from the bench.
Both teams adopted a reserved approach to start the match because of the intense mood in their attacking zones. Inter’s pressuring at maximum speed began the match with 573 intense pressures during the initial encounter thus undermining Bayern’s initial movement patterns. The seventh-minute turn by Nicolò Barella in midfield gave Inter possession which led to Marcus Thuram taking a shot that missed the target. The 14th minute saw Bayern create their first threat when Michael Olise launched a bending shot that Yann Sommer saved despite playing for Bayern during his past club stint.
Bayern’s Pressure Meets Inter’s Resolve
The match saw Bayern maintain tactical control of the ball throughout the first half (58% possession) yet Inter’s defensive formation prevented them from creating dangerous opportunities. Inter’s defensive structure reached its pinnacle when Darmian blocked Müller’s shot and Sommer prevented Sané’s follow-up. Inter’s players absorbed pressure while throwing long balls to Thuram and Martínez and used Dimarco as an offensive threat who effectively pressured Bayern’s defense composed of the third-string back-up Josip Stanišić. Despite a high number of 10 Bayern Munich shots during the opening half only Sommer was forced to stop two taken efforts while Inter maintained their 2-1 aggregate advantage going into halftime.
Second Half: A Rollercoaster of Goals
Bayern Strike First, Inter Respond
Bayern started the second period by scoring first and opening the match for good at the 52nd minute. Leon Goretzka delivered an excellent pass which set up Harry Kane to score from the mistake of Dimarco. The England captain made use of his time before firing a low shot which skipped under Dimarco’s legs and beyond Sommer’s reach into the far corner to bring the aggregate score to 2-2. The entire San Siro stadium went quiet when Bayern Munich detected their comeback opportunity while Kane scored his 11th Champions League goal of the season at that moment to confirm his threatening form.
The Serie A side reacted immediately with determination. Six minutes after that goal in the 58th minute Lautaro Martínez successfully sealed the aggregate lead for Inter. After heading a Hakan Çalhanoğlu corner kick that struck Joshua Kimmich Martinzez leveraged the bounce to drive a strike past opposing goalkeeper into the net securing his fifth-straight Champions League goalscorer status. His striking total reached seven matches in Champions League competition which now placed him behind Samuel Eto’o by just one goal in Inter’s all-time record. The eruption of the San Siro stadium came as Martinez displayed both heart and head which changed everything.
Pavard’s Header and Dier’s Late Scare
Inter grew their lead during the 62nd minute by having Benjamin Pavard score an unlikely goal. Midfielder Çalhanoğlu delivered another corner kick which permitted center-back Pavard to rise and score after getting above Kim Min-jae and beat goalkeeper Urbig for a powerful header. The winning goal became Pavard’s 40th Champions League triumph while playing his 50th Champions League game which successfully put Inter ahead by 4-2 in the aggregate score and stopped Bayern’s fans from cheering.
Bayern refused to capitulate. Eric Dier rose to connect with a Kimmich cross which produced a crucial goal to reduce the aggregate score to 4-3 in the 76th minute. As Bayern attacked aggressively during the last 15 minutes the team pushed all their players forward. Sommer saved a goal from Müller in stoppage time before Kingsley Coman hit a wayward volley with the final kick which saved Inter Milan’s lead and let the San Siro crowd cheer their side through to the semi-finals.
Key Performances
Inter Milan’s Heroes
- Lautaro Martínez earned an 8.5 score for leading the team by example with his seventh Champions League goal while causing Bayern’s defense constant trouble. His frequent energetic efforts combined with his goal-scoring accuracy proved essential for Inter Milan’s success.
- Pavard achieved his 50th appearance in the Champions League with both a powerful strike and strong defensive handling. His aerial prowess proved decisive.
- Yann Sommer earned 7.5 out of 10 as the Swiss goalkeeper made essential saves when defending against Olise and Müller. The former Bayern player witnessed an excellent display of composure from his rival team.
- Federico Dimarco maintained a strong 7/10 rating despite giving up Kane’s scoring chance because he continuously made successful offensive runs and frequently pressed Bayern Munich’s defensive line. Pavard demonstrated his dedication by receiving a yellow card during the stoppage period.
Bayern Munich’s Efforts
- Harry Kane received a score of 7.5/10 for his goal-scoring ability against Bayern although his missed hooking attempt during stoppage time displayed his challenges to perform under pressure.
- The defender scored a crucial goal during the match yet his defensive mistakes from the first game and difficulties against Martínez restricted his overall contribution.
- Michael Olise scored 7 out of 10 points for Bayern as he created several dangerous attacks with his movements yet failed to produce finishing touches during the match.
- During the match Sané received a mediocre rating of 5.5/10 because the Italian defender Darmian shut him down and kept him from scoring any of his limited opportunities. The coach chose to replace his player during the 66th minute because his performance showed signs of weakness.
Tactical Analysis
Inter’s Pressing and Counter-Attacking Prowess
The defensive organization of Inter under Simone Inzaghi and their approach to clinical finishing created a perfect example of top-level squad management. The 3-5-2 formation that featured hyperactive wing-backs Darmian and Dimarco let Inter defend Bayern Munich’s ball possession percentage (57.6% across the tie) during regular gameplay yet attack through counter movements.
The first leg saw Inter make 573 high-energy defensive efforts before using focused set-piece attacks to score against Bayern during the second fixture while exploiting their aerial defense weaknesses. Through the powerful combination of dead ball delivery by Çalhanoğlu and the superior height of the Martínez and Thuram strike partnership Inter Miami achieved an intimidating attacking presence. Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Inter supremacy in midfield against Bayern after Inzaghi chose to repeat his starting line-up from the first match.
Bayern’s Missed Opportunities
Bayern Munich suffered their elimination at the hands of Inter because they failed to convert their chances and let up multiple defensive mistakes throughout both matches. Inter Milan scored three goals from their total of 38 shots and 2.30 predicted goals during both legs of the tie. Comicole Kompany was obliged to play a makeshift defence that included Dier and Stanišić because Musiala and Davies and Neuer were absent from the starting lineup.
Sending Raphaël Guerreiro in ahead of Müller during the first leg match proved to be a poor tactical choice because Bayern lost their attacking unity. Bayern’s attack suffered from two problems in the second leg because the Inter defensive formation controlled Kane’s offensive runs and Sané proved unable to create chances down the left flank while Olise became the team’s principal generator of attacking situations. Bankshalter Dier along with Kim Min-jae accumulated two yellow cards during the first half thereby restricting their usual attacking fervor while Bayern Munich suffered more setbacks.
Post-Match Reaction
Simone Inzaghi
Speaking after victory against the powerful opponents Inzaghi expressed proud emotions about this wonderful night of exciting football at the stadium before home supporters. The team needed to deliver two exceptional matches where they left no factor unexplored. All Inter fans should celebrate this amazing victory achieved by the remarkable child team members. Inzaghi acknowledged Martínez’s team leadership while praising Pavard’s important substitution during the match because it strengthened Inter’s desire to win a treble.
Vincent Kompany
Kompany acknowledged that his team put forth strong effort yet failed to secure victory. Inter displayed their clinical nature by converting their opportunities while we failed to execute our situations. The time demands a lesson from this failure and concentrated efforts on Bundesliga games. People continue to assess Kompany’s coaching future as Bayern Munich’s Champions League elimination leads to concerns about his leadership time.
Statistical Breakdown
- Possession: Inter Milan 42.4%, Bayern Munich 57.6%
- Shots: Inter Milan 12 (5 on target), Bayern Munich 16 (4 on target)
- Corners: Inter Milan 6, Bayern Munich 4
- Saves: Sommer 3, Urbig 3
- Yellow Cards: Inter Milan 2, Bayern Munich 1
- Pass Completion: Inter Milan 84%, Bayern Munich 89%
What’s Next?
Due to their semi-final qualification Inter Milan will play Barcelona in a rematch of the 2010 semi-final which led to their treble run. The Nerazzurri will start their Serie A clash against Torino on Sunday April 20 while maintaining their Serie A top position. Inter’s current momentum along with Martínez’s excellent form and stable playing group gives Inzaghi’s team hope to win European trophies.
The Champions League elimination for Bayern Munich crushed their wish to secure the trophy which had initially been scheduled for May 31 as a home trophy ceremony. The Bavarians face Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday, April 19, with Kompany under pressure to salvage the season in the Bundesliga. The exit from the Champions League has raised questions about whether Kane can deliver trophies and what will happen to Müller when he leaves the team later this season.
Conclusion
The Italian club Inter Milan proved their ability to overcome adversity while maintaining strict tactical methods and healthcare-like goal conversion to beat Bayern Munich 4-3 in aggregate. Inter surged forward into the semifinals after Lautaro Martínez and Benjamin Pavard scored while Yann Sommer made crucial saves to defeat Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate. The Italian team now seeks to repeat their 2010 success by facing Barcelona. The Bayern Munich team lost in the Champions League because familiar weaknesses emerged through defensive mistakes combined with missed scoring opportunities. Inter fans at the San Siro celebrated their dramatic victory in defiance which allows their treble pursuit to continue while Bayern Munich faces tough challenges in the upcoming matches.
