Farewell to the “Bavarian Giants”

Inter Milan has been in impressive form across all competitions. Following their gutsy away win at the Allianz Arena, Simone Inzaghi’s men entered the return leg full of confidence. Their high-intensity pressing game, combined with midfield dominance from Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan, and Lautaro Martínez’s inspired performances up front, has made them a serious threat to any opponent.

Particularly formidable at home, Inter had won all five of their Champions League matches at the Giuseppe Meazza this season, conceding just one goal. Backed by this advantage and the electric home crowd, they successfully "defanged the Bavarian beast" and advanced to face Barcelona, the Catalan giants, in the semifinals.

As for Bayern Munich, they came into the second leg under pressure after losing at home. Their domestic form hasn’t been convincing either, most recently drawing 2-2 with Dortmund. A major concern for Bayern has been their shaky defense, weakened by injuries to key players like Neuer, Davies, Upamecano, and Hiroki Ito. Hopes were pinned on standout striker Harry Kane, who had already netted 10 goals in this Champions League campaign. But as the saying goes, one swallow does not make a summer. When the final whistle blew, Bayern were forced to bow out against a spirited and sharp Inter Milan.

From the outset, Bayern pushed forward aggressively, eager to turn the tie around. Inter, however, did not simply sit back. Their counterattacks remained a constant threat, and the game was played at a high tempo. Despite chances on both ends, neither side could break the deadlock in the first half, thanks to solid goalkeeping.

The second half brought the action. Harry Kane struck first, showcasing his class inside the box with a precise finish to give Bayern the lead. But Inter responded quickly. In the 58th minute, off a corner, Lautaro Martínez leveled the score with a clinical strike past Jonas Urbig. Just three minutes later, Inter went ahead 2-1 from another corner routine.

Now needing two more goals to advance, Bayern threw everything forward. They managed to pull one back through Eric Dier in the 76th minute, but it wasn’t enough. The match ended 2-2, with Inter winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate. A bitter exit for Bayern from the 2024/2025 Champions League.

Just one day after Dortmund’s elimination by Barcelona, Bayern Munich followed suit, leaving this season’s Champions League without any German representation. As the competition moves into its final stages, only clubs from England, Italy, France, and Spain remain in the race for European glory.