Inter vs Bayern: Champions League Preview

Setting the Scene

Simone Inzaghi's Inter are in formidable form, unbeaten in their last 12 matches across all competitions, and leading Serie A by six points. Their 3-1 victory over Cagliari at the weekend served as a confident warm-up, with Lautaro Martínez notching his 20th goal for Inter in all competitions this season. Inter have also been dominant at home in Europe, boasting a 14-match unbeaten run in the Champions League at San Siro.​

Bayern Munich, under Vincent Kompany, are experiencing a challenging period. A 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday extended their winless run to three matches. Despite this, they remain six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Kompany has emphasised the need for a focused performance, stating, "We only have to win one match. We should go into it with that mindset."

First Leg Recap

In the first leg, Inter secured a 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena, with goals from Lautaro Martínez and Davide Frattesi. Bayern's Thomas Müller briefly leveled the score, but the hosts were unable to capitalise on their dominance, having registered 20 shots to Inter's 10 and an expected goals tally of 2.3 to Inter’s 0.8. ​

Team News

Inter are expected to field a strong lineup, with Federico Dimarco returning to the starting XI after recovering from a hamstring injury. Inzaghi is likely to make changes from the rotated team that faced Cagliari, reinstating key players like Alessandro Bastoni and Benjamin Pavard.

Bayern, however, are grappling with several injuries. Alphonso Davies is out for the season with an ACL injury, while Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, and Jamal Musiala are also sidelined. Manuel Neuer remains unavailable, and Thomas Müller may be given a pivotal role in the attack after his equaliser off the bench in Germany. Pavlovic returned from his spell out with glandular fever against Dortmund on Saturday in a boost to the midfield options.

Stats Watch

• Inter have progressed from 21 of the last 23 European ties in which they led after the first leg.​
• Bayern have won all four of their European away games at Inter without conceding a goal. 
• Lautaro Martínez has scored in each of his last four Champions League appearances, and could become the first Inter player to net in five consecutive UCL matches.​
• Thomas Müller is set to make his 163rd Champions League appearance, equaling Lionel Messi's tally.

Inter Milan enter the second leg with a slight advantage and strong home form, but Bayern Munich's impressive away record at San Siro provides them with hope. With key players returning for Inter and Bayern dealing with injuries, the match promises to be another tightly contested affair. Both teams have the pedigree and quality to progress, making this a must-watch encounter.