In a match that reflected both defensive resilience and flashes of attacking brilliance, Inter Milan held Bayern Munich to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the San Siro and secured a 4-3 win on aggregate to advance to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Although the final stages of the match saw Inter under pressure, head coach Simone Inzaghi was animated on the sidelines, urging his players to maintain intensity and composure. The gritty performance was reminiscent of classic Italian football, prioritizing results above all.
To understand Inter Milan’s journey to the last four, one must revisit their disciplined display against Arsenal earlier in the tournament. In that match, Inzaghi rested five regular starters and still managed a 1-0 win with their only shot on target – a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty – and just 37% ball possession. Interestingly, the possession statistic remained identical against Bayern, once again at 37%, despite Bayern’s dominance in spells.
Inter’s efficiency, however, cannot be overlooked. They matched Bayern with six shots on target and even had Matteo Darmian’s effort blocked by Eric Dier with the goalkeeper beaten. Their ability to absorb pressure and strike back was evident throughout the night. Inter have now conceded only five goals across 12 matches in this Champions League campaign and lead the tournament with 52 blocked shots before the quarter-finals.
After Benjamin Pavard put Inter ahead in the 61st minute, Bayern responded with Dier’s looping header in the 76th to equalize the game. Despite Bayern’s eight attempts after Inter’s second goal, they failed to convert meaningful chances. “We were definitely on the back foot at times but we showed again that we can achieve great things,” said Lautaro Martinez post-match.
The match also marked the end of Thomas Mueller’s Champions League season, leaving him on 163 career appearances, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas.
Yet, Inter’s attacking rhythm was also on display. Following Harry Kane’s 52nd-minute equalizer on aggregate, Inter strung together nine precise passes from flank to center that ended with Martinez setting up Marcus Thuram, whose effort tested Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig. Earlier, Thuram had almost breached Bayern’s backline on multiple occasions, with Dimarco also getting close in the ninth minute.
Lautaro Martinez’s goal, his 150th in 325 games for Inter, came from a powerful header off a corner, answering Pavard’s earlier effort. It captured the spirit of a team not content with sitting back. In another attacking phase, Darmian nearly put Inter ahead again.
Inzaghi’s tactical flexibility was evident, with defenders like Acerbi pushing upfield and wing-backs like Dimarco occupying forward positions. Even when players moved out of position, midfielders like Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan stepped back seamlessly into defensive roles, maintaining team shape.
Despite having the lowest wage bill among the four semi-finalists, Inter have shown remarkable consistency under Inzaghi. Reaching the Champions League final once and now the semi-finals within four years, they have rebuilt after losing key players post the 2022-23 season and still managed to clinch the Serie A title. Their win over Bayern marked the German club’s first home defeat since 2021, underlining Inter’s mental strength and tactical discipline.
With five Italians in the starting XI and a homegrown coach leading the charge, Inter Milan continue to carry Italy’s hope in Europe. “We are not setting any limits,” said Benjamin Pavard, capturing the team’s mindset as they prepare to face Barcelona in the semi-finals — a fixture that echoes their treble-winning run of 2010 under Jose Mourinho.
