Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich: the complete matchday guide
Everything you need to know ahead of the second-leg clash in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
The adrenaline is rising as the countdown continues. Inter Milan are ready to face Bayern Munich at San Siro in the second leg of the quarter-final tie between the sides.
Kick-off is scheduled tonight at 21:00 CEST at San Siro. In the first leg, the Nerazzurri ran out 2-1 winners at the Fußball Arena München thanks to goals from Lautaro and Frattesi.
Previous encounters
The upcoming clash between Inter Milan and Bayern will be the eleventh meeting between the sides in Europe.
In their last six Champions League encounters, there have been three wins apiece. Curiously, only one of those six matches ended in a home victory: Bayern's 2–0 win in November 2022.
Before the Nerazzurri's 2-1 first-leg success, the most recent meeting dated back to the 2022/23 group stage, during which the Bavarians recorded two 2-0 victories. Inter Milan have overcome Bayern in both previous encounters between the two sides in the Champions League knockouts: the memorable 2-0 success in the Madrid final in 2010 and the thrilling round of 16 tie in 2010/11 (decided by the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw).
Notably, only Real Madrid have managed to eliminate Bayern on more occasions in the knockouts (seven times). Inter Milan are part of a select group of five clubs that have knocked out the German side more than once (Barcelona, Chelsea and AC Milan are the other teams).
Nerazzurri numbers
Inter Milan have a very positive record in ties where they won the first leg: on the 23 occasions this previously happened in the European Cup/Champions League knockouts, the Nerazzurri progressed to the next round 21 times.
San Siro continues to be a fortress for Inzaghi's men in Europe: Inter Milan are unbeaten in 14 home matches in the Champions League (twelve wins and two draws). No team is currently on a longer undefeated streak in the competition, with the Nerazzurri having put an end to Bayern Munich's 22-game unbeaten run at the Allianz Arena when the teams met in the first leg.
Another stat that reflects Inter Milan’s mentality and intensity: the Nerazzurri registered 573 high-intensity presses - the highest number recorded in the Champions League this season - in the match in Germany last Tuesday.
Lautaro keeps on shining
Lautaro Martínez continues to write his story in Nerazzurri colours, including in the Champions League.
The Inter Milan captain has found the net in each of Inter Milan's last four matches in the competition, and now he's aiming to make history: should he get on the scoresheet again, he'd become the first Inter Milan player ever to score in five consecutive Champions League fixtures.
The Nerazzurri No.10 has already scored seven goals in this edition of the tournament, and only two former greats have managed to do better with Inter Milan in a single European season: Hernán Crespo 2002/03 (nine goals) and Samuel Eto’o in 2010/11 (eight).
El Toro continues to lead the charge with his goals, leadership and record-breaking numbers.
Opponents: Bayern Munich
Bayern are dominating the Bundesliga, where they sit first with 69 points, six ahead of nearest challengers Bayer Leverkusen after matchday 29.
Domestically, their record reads as follows: 21 wins, six draws and two defeats; 83 goals scored and 29 conceded.
At the weekend, the Bavarians drew 2-2 at home to Dortmund. Before this, they'd picked up ten points from a possible twelve after beating Leverkusen, St. Pauli and Augsburg and drawing away to Union Berlin.
In Europe, Vincent Kompany's men finished the League Phase in twelfth play with 15 points, scoring 20 and conceding twelve.
In the knockouts, they overcame Celtic in the play-offs and Bayer Leverkusen at the round of 16 stage to progress this far.
Before falling to defeat against Inter Milan, Bayern had gone 22 home matches without defeat in the Champions League.
Their last loss had come against Paris Saint-Germain in April 2021. It is likely that the Bavarians will take to the pitch in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Urbig between the sticks, Laimer, Kim, Dier and Stanisic at the back, Kimmich and Goretzka as the team's holding midfielders, and Olise, Muller and Sané behind Kane.
Source and photo: inter.it