Inter Milan take control with late strike aginst Bayern Munich
Inter's Davide Frattesi, center celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Champions League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
INTER Milan took a significant step towards the last four of the Champions League when Davide Frattesi’s late strike ensured they will have a one-goal advantage when they face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their quarter-final.
Trailing to Lautaro Martinez’s excellent first-half finish, Bayern thought they had done enough to remain on level terms at the mid-point of the tie when Thomas Muller, who is due to leave the club this summer, equalised in the 85th minute.
Frattesi, though finished from close range four minutes later to confirm the outcome that ended Bayern’s 22-game unbeaten home run in this competition and dealt a huge blown to their prospects of reaching the final that will be held at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern, 16 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, lost the influential Jamal Musiala to a hamstring injury last week, forcing Vincent Kompany to rethink his forward options with Raphael Guerreiro stepping into the playmaker role ahead of Thomas Muller. There were few signs the German side had been affected by the enforced change, however, as they controlled much of the opening half hour with Michael Olise the dominant figure.
The France international has had an outstanding season following his move from Crystal Palace and he immediately demonstrated he was capable of troubling Inter from the right hand flank. The winger’s deflected shot flew narrowly wide before his cross presented Harry Kane with a headed chance that was saved by Inter keeper Yann Sommer. And it was an Olise pass that presented Guerreiro with a sight of goal after the visitors had failed to clear their lines.
The best chance of the opening period however, fell to Kane. A long clearance by Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig stretched the Inter defence and after the ball broke to Olise, the winger moved across the penalty area before setting up Kane on the left hand side of the box. A goal seemed inevitable but Kane’s sights were off and he directed his curling shot against the outside of the far post.
It was the kind of opportunity Kane rarely spurns the forward’s failure to make the breakthrough appeared to give Inter a lift. The Serie A leaders had offered little going forward up to that point but began to look more assured, piecing together passages of possession and almost catching the home side out when a quick exchange of passes allowed centre-back Alessandro Bastoni to surge forward before releasing left wing-back Carlos Augusto who shot into the side netting.
If that was a warning of Inter’s ability to attack incisively, it went unheeded by the Bundesliga side who were caught out again Martinez struck in the 38th minute after a fine move. The Inter captain was involved in the early stages of the move, winning the header from Sommer’s ball out then helping move the ball wide to Augusto via Bastoni. And Martinez was then on hand to provide a precise finish when Marcus Thuram laid off the wing-back’s low cross with a clever backheel.
The goal appeared to sap Bayern of their earlier confidence and they showed few signs of recovering before the break. The momentum was with Inter who continued to show more belief after the restart and it took an excellent save by Urbig to keep out Martinez’s angled shot at the near post.
The home side lacked conviction, particularly in the final third where they struggled to make headway against a formidable Inter backline. Left-back Josip Stanisic headed wastefully over and Guerreiro saw a volley dip narrowly over the bar but it was clear Bayern needed fresh ideas and it came as no surprise when Muller was introduced.
The attacking midfielder, 35, responded in familiar style, scoring from close range from Konrad Laimer’s cross but Inter struck back quickly to claim the advantage.
Urbig 6; Laimer 6, Dier 6, Kim 6 (Boey 74,6), Stanisic 6; Kimmich 6, Goretzka 5; Olise 7, Guerreiro 6 (Gnabry 74,6), Sane 6 (Muller, 74,6); Kane 5.
Peretz, Klanac, Goretska, Karl, Kusi-Asare, Vidovic, Palhinha, Jensen.
Sommer 7; Pavard 7, Acerbi 8, Bastoni 7; Darmian 6 (Bisseck 79,6), Barella 7, Calhanoglu 7, Mkhitaryan 6 (Frattesi 74,6), Augusto 7; Thuram 7, Martinez 9 (Zalewski 89).
Di Gennaro, Martinez, Berenbruch, De Vrij, Dimarco, De Pieri, Zanchetta,, Re Cecconi, Arnautovic.
Sandro Schärer (Switzerland) 6.
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