On Tuesday evening, a thrilling clash between European powerhouses is set to unfold as Bayern Munich faces off against Internazionale at the Allianz Arena, the venue for this year’s Champions League final.
Both clubs are enjoying remarkable success in their domestic leagues, with Bayern leading the Bundesliga and Inter sitting atop Serie A. The Bavarians boast a six-point cushion over Bayer Leverkusen, while the Nerazzurri maintain a narrow three-point advantage over Napoli.
Vincent Kompany’s squad has experienced only one defeat in their last 15 outings across all competitions, compared to two for Simone Inzaghi’s side, highlighting the significance of this two-legged quarter-final for both teams.
Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona will be keen observers of this encounter, as the victor will clash with either Bayern or Inter in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
This match marks the 10th encounter between the German and Italian giants in European tournaments, with Bayern emerging victorious in five of their previous nine meetings (D1 L3), including their last Champions League showdown where they secured 2-0 wins both home and away during the 2022/23 group stage.
Inter Have Historical Advantage in UCL Knockouts
While Inter have lost four of their seven contests against Bayern in the competition (W2 D1), they have successfully eliminated the Bavarians in both knockout stage meetings: a 2-0 victory in the 2009/10 final, and progressing based on away goals in the 2010/11 round of 16 (3-3 on aggregate).
To achieve success in the first leg, the Nerazzurri will need to be at their peak performance, as Bayern are unbeaten in their last 22 home matches in the Champions League (W17 D5). The last team to defeat them on home soil in this competition was Paris Saint-Germain back in April 2021, with a score of 3-2 in the quarter-final first leg.
Defensive resilience will be crucial for Inzaghi’s men, as their clean sheet percentage of 80% in the 2024/25 Champions League season is the highest among teams with 10 or more matches in a single campaign (eight clean sheets in 10 matches).
Players like Harry Kane and Michael Olise will need to be at their best, as opportunities may be few and far between with Inter aiming to maintain their solid defensive record.
Kane has now directly contributed to 50 goals in 55 Champions League appearances (39 goals and 11 assists), including an impressive 12 goals in 11 matches this season. Only Robert Lewandowski has been involved in more goals in a single season for Bayern Munich (20 in 2019-20 and 16 in 2021-22), showcasing how smoothly England’s captain has adapted to life in Germany.
As a player yet to secure a senior-level trophy, Kane has the potential to finish the 2024/25 campaign with two titles if Bayern can maintain their form in the league and successfully navigate the European competition.
His prolific scoring can be attributed to Bayern averaging the highest number of high-intensity pressures per game in the Champions League this season (121.8), along with an average of 12.8 high turnovers per game, the highest by any team since Bayern themselves in the 2021/22 season (13.2).
Kane’s passing accuracy stands at a respectable 80.1%, but with only Thomas Muller having a lower completion rate (78.1%) among regular starters, Inter will have their work cut out to regain possession.
On the other hand, Inter has their own sharp goal-scorer in Lautaro Martinez, who has netted six times in nine Champions League appearances this season. This marks the highest tally for any Inter player in a single season since Samuel Eto’o managed eight in 2010/11, with Eto’o’s final goal that season coming against Bayern in the Round of 16.
The match’s outcome could hinge on more than just the forwards’ performances.
Kimmich Could Shape the Course of the Tie
Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich has completed an impressive 1,015 passes in the competition this season, marking the highest total by any player in a single edition since the 2013/14 season (Toni Kroos with 1,080 and Xavi with 1,020). He’s also leading the way in chance creation (35) and line-breaking passes (201) among midfielders this term.
If Inter afford him the freedom to control the game’s rhythm and structure, they’re likely to face significant repercussions.
Meanwhile, Inter will also be focusing on different areas of the pitch to create challenges for Bayern.
Across the last three Champions League seasons, Achraf Hakimi, a long-serving member of PSG and a former Inter player, is the only full-back or wing-back to have provided more assists (8) than Inter’s Federico Dimarco (6). Notably, each of Dimarco’s assists have been to different players (Dzeko, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Correa, Martinez, and Thuram).
With both teams showcasing undeniable quality across the field, choosing a clear winner is a formidable task, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the outcome hinges on a penalty shootout.
Bayern will be eager to correct the disappointment of 2012, when they last hosted the Champions League final, only to fall short against Chelsea.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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