Benjamin Pavard came back to haunt his former club with the ultimately decisive goal as Inter Milan knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League with a 4-3 aggregate win in their quarter-final tie.
Both teams had their chances in the first half, and it was Bayern's Harry Kane who got the ball rolling early in the second half to level the tie on aggregate, but goals from Lautaro Martinez and Pavard quickly shifted momentum back in Inter's favour.
However, the two-goal deficit did not dishearten Bayern, who roared back thanks to Eric Dier's looping header with just under 15 minutes remaining, but it was ultimately not enough, as Inter take their place in the final four for the second time in three seasons.
Barcelona await Simone Inzaghi's men in the semi-finals, while Bayern miss the chance to put the demons of 2012 behind them, by failing to reach the Champions League final which will be held at the Allianz Arena.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Inter will be the outsiders among the bookmakers to win the competition, but there must be plenty of respect for the Nerazzurri, who still remain devastated at how they lost the 2023 final to Manchester City.
Their usually impenetrable defence was breached three times across this tie, but they undoubtedly still have the strongest backline in the competition; it will just be a matter of whether they can now keep out Europe's most potent attack in the form of Barcelona.
The run to the final in 2023 was relatively kind to Inter, but this time around, their mettle will really be tested, having already beaten the best Germany has to offer, they now must see off Spain's finest.
For Bayern and Vincent Kompany, despite putting up a good fight in trying circumstances, this will be seen as a huge failure in the eyes of the club's hierarchy, but with the Bavarians set to wrestle back Bundesliga supremacy, the Belgian manager may be spared for now.
INTER VS. BAYERN HIGHLIGHTS
Kane goal vs. Inter (52nd min, Inter (2) 0-1 (2) Bayern)
KANE GIVES BAYERN THE LEAD 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
A fantastic shimmy and strike into the far corner from the England captain gives Bayern a 1-0 lead, and puts them back in the tie!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tHmw1ghDnz
The deadlock is broken in Milan and Kane has silenced his critics with a brilliant strike, isolating Federico Dimarco on the right-hand side of the area, before arrowing an effort into the far corner, leaving Yann Sommer rooted to the spot.
Martinez goal vs. Bayern (58th min, Inter (3) 1-1 (2) Bayern)
WHO ELSE BUT LAUTARO MARTINEZ 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
It drops in the box and Lautaro pounces to smash home the equaliser, scoring for his 5th UCL game in a row! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AD9qYbOdhR
Just like last week, Inter respond to adversity instantly! Joshua Kimmich fails to clear Dimarco's dangerous delivery, and Martinez is on hand to bury the chance from close range to give the Nerazzurri the lead on aggregate again, while also becoming the first Inter player to score in five straight Champions League matches.
Pavard goal vs. Bayern (61st min, Inter (4) 2-1 (2) Bayern)
TWO IN QUICK SUCCESSION FOR INTER 💨💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
A bullet header from Benjamin Pavard puts Inter 2-1 ahead, 4-2 on aggregate!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/LRcrF7ui3D
Could that settle it? Pavard comes back to haunt his former club with a towering header from Hakan Calhanoglu's corner that leaves Jonas Urbig with no chance in the Bayern goal, and for the first time in the tie, Inter have breathing space.
Dier goal vs. Inter (76th min, Inter (4) 2-2 (3) Bayern)
WHAT A HEADER ERIC DIER 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 16, 2025
The Englishman rises at the back post to head past Sommer to make it 2-2 at the Giuseppe Meazza! Game on! ⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/wE6ikZtGuf
It is not all over yet! Serge Gnabry's deep delivery is met on the byline by Dier, who somehow manages to add enough spin to his header to leave Sommer stranded in the Inter goal, and we are in for a tense finale at San Siro.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LAUTARO MARTINEZ
© Imago
Only one man can be up for this award, and it is man of the moment Martinez, who has played a pivotal part in this tie, with goals in both legs.
The Inter skipper came up when his team needed him most with an instant reply to Bayern's opener, becoming the first Inter player in history to net in five successive Champions League matches.
INTER VS. BAYERN MATCH STATS
Possession: Inter 38%-62% Bayern
Shots: Inter 15-20 Bayern
Shots on target: Inter 6-6 Bayern
Corners: Inter 5-6 Bayern
Fouls: Inter 10-16 Bayern
BEST STATS
150 - Lautaro #Martínez is the first foreign player of #Inter to reach 150 goals in all competitions, in general he is the sixth player to achieve this milestone in the history of the club. Milestone. #InterBayernMonaco
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) April 16, 2025
101 - Since the start of last season, Harry Kane has been directly involved in more goals (101) and scored more (79) than any other player from Europe's big five leagues across all competitions. Elite. pic.twitter.com/7sOXkFxgel
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 16, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Inter will continue in their pursuit of the Serie A title with a tricky trip to Bologna at the weekend, while Bayern travel to Heidenheim looking to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
Andrew Delaney
