Stadio Giuseppe Meazza varieties the backdrop for the second leg of a mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final tie between Inter and Bayern Munich. Simone Inzaghi’s fees head into proceedings on the entrance foot after taking an all-important first-leg lead on the Allianz Area final weekend.
Targets from Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi on both facet of halftime noticed Inter upset the apple cart in Munich final Tuesday. Nevertheless, Thomas Muller’s strike blew this tie large open. Regardless of main 2-1, the reigning Serie A champions can not take something without any consideration going into this season-defining showdown.
Securing Champions League glory for the primary time since 2010 is integral to Inter’s hopes of reaching a second treble in membership historical past. Inzaghi’s facet took one other step towards changing into the primary Serie A champion to defend their crown in 5 years final weekend with a routine 3-1 home win against relegation-battling Cagliari.
Not like their hosts, Bayern Munich stuttered over the weekend as arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund held them to a 2-2 draw within the newest version of the well-known Der Klassiker. Regardless of dropping factors for the third time within the final 5 Bundesliga matchdays, Vincent Kompany’s males completed the spherical six factors away from reigning champions and present runners-up Bayer Leverkusen.
Subsequently, they need to take the sphere in excessive spirits, despite the fact that they’ve a mountain to climb on the San Siro.
Match Preview
Inter
Excessive-flying Inter are doubtlessly 90 minutes away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the second time in three years. Confidence stems from Inter’s indomitable European document on residence turf. Certainly, Inzaghi’s fees boast an eye catching 14-game unbeaten streak at Meazza on this competitors (W12, D2).
What’s extra spectacular, they solely conceded 5 objectives in that stretch. After halting Bayern’s 22-game streak final week, Inter personal the longest energetic unbeaten residence streak at Europe’s high desk, testifying to their rising continental pedigree and Meazza’s fortress-like popularity. But, there’s no room for complacency.
In the hunt for extra good omens, Inter haven’t misplaced a aggressive fixture since mid-February. Certainly, they pieced collectively a formidable 12-game streak with out shedding throughout all competitions after slumping to a slender 1-0 defeat at Juventus (W9, D3), together with six consecutive victories on residence turf. Nonetheless, there’s a notice of warning.
Bayern Munich
Regardless of final week’s fiasco in Munich, the Bavarians can take coronary heart from their exceptional away document towards Inter. The runaway Bundesliga leaders have gained all 4 earlier UEFA matches towards the Nerazzurri on Italian soil, together with three within the Champions League with out conceding. That makes for good studying, but there’s a catch.
Although thought-about a continental superpower, Bayern Munich have overhauled a first-leg deficit within the Champions League solely as soon as in eight earlier makes an attempt. On the intense facet, that lone event got here towards Inter’s fellow Serie A rivals Lazio in final season’s spherical of 16, providing Kompany’s workforce a purpose for optimism forward of this journey.
Looking for their first semi-final look since hoisting the trophy in 2019/20, the six-time European champions can depend on back-to-back away wins within the Champions League to hold them via. These triumphs kind a part of Bayern Munich’s promising-looking seven-game unbeaten run away from residence, all competitions included (W5, D2).
Crew Information
Federico Dimarco is again to full health after being ignored of the squad for the primary leg final weekend. The Italian wingback ought to dislodge Carlos Augusto from the beginning line-up. Nevertheless, Inter can not name upon Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski, with veteran full-back Matteo Darmian anticipated to take the previous’s place on the precise wing once more.
Within the meantime, Manuel Neuer has reportedly recovered from a calf harm however ought to nonetheless begin on the bench. Bayern Munich took this journey with out a number of first-team stars, together with Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, and Dayot Upamecano.
Inter vs Bayern Munich Potential Beginning Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Thuram, Martinez.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Laimer, Dier, Kim, Guerreiro; Goretzka, Kimmich; Olise, Müller, Sane; Kane.
Inter vs Bayern Munich Prediction
Damage-hit Bayern Munich can nonetheless flip this tie on its head, therefore the significance of Inter’s full focus. The hosts should not take this process calmly and let their purple patch tuck them right into a false sense of safety. Given Inzaghi’s tactical acumen and Inter’s well-documented self-discipline in these high-profile clashes, we will simply envisage the Italians’ progress.
Prediction: Draw / Inter to Progress
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