It’s a clash of two titans in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday as the German league leaders face the Italian league leaders at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern are on track to reclaim the Bundesliga title after falling short to Bayer Leverkusen last year. Sitting six points clear at the summit of the German top flight with six games to go, it’s looking likely they will wrest the crown back.
Inter Milan are having a similarly fine season, sitting four points off second-placed Napoli in Serie A. However, the Naples-based side do have a game in hand and Inter go into this game off the back of a 2-2 draw against Parma on Saturday.
BAYERN MUNICH VS INTER MILAN PREVIEW
Despite flying high in their respective leagues, the form of both sides is somewhat mixed. As well as drawing against Parma, Inter drew 1-1 against AC Milan in the Coppa Italia before that. Meanwhile, Bayern go into this game off the back of wins against St Pauli (3-2) and Augsburg (1-3) but drew 1-1 against Union Berlin and also lost recently to Bochum.
Both sides made light work of their Champions League last-16 fixtures though. Bayern blasted past nearest rivals Bayer Leverkusen, winning 5-0 on aggregate. Inter had a slightly trickier task against Feyenoord, but came through both legs with a 4-1 win.
The last time the two sides met, in the group stage of the 2022/23 competition, Bayern did the double over Inter.
A strike from Leroy Sané and an own goal from Danilo D’Ambrosio gave the Bavarians a 2-0 win at the San Siro. Benjamin Pavard and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting got the goals as Bayern won 2-0 at the Allianz Arena too.
Inter did beat Bayern on the biggest stage of all though, winning the 2009/10 Champions League final 2-0.
Playmaker Jamal Musiala sustained a torn muscle against Augsburg on Friday night and will likely miss the rest of the season. This will be a huge blow to Bayern, with 35-year-old Thomas Muller likely to replace him.
Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are both out with knee issues, but Kingsley Coman could be back. Manuel Neuer’s chances of featuring aren’t high though.
Alessandro Bastoni should feature for Inter Milan despite not playing the second half against Parma due to a knee problem.
Midfielder Kristjan Asllani is suspended. Denzel Dumfries (thigh), Mehdi Taremi (muscle) and Piotr Zielinski (calf) are all out.
BAYERN MUNICH VS INTER MILAN – PREDICTIONS
Bayern Munich Win
Bayern are unbeaten at home in 22 Champions League games and are the second-highest scorers in the competition with 28 goals. They will face the competition’s most miserly defence, but Inter do have a habit of throwing leads away. Recent history is also on Bayern’s side.
Draw
The two sides are evenly matched, with both flying in their respective leagues. Inter will know a draw here will be a good result to take back to the San Siro for the second leg.
Inter Milan Win
Inter’s defence has been incredibly tight, conceding just two goals in their 10 Champions League matches this campaign. Keeping the likes of Harry Kane out will be a tricky proposition, but it’s one they could do.
BAYERN MUNICH VS INTER MILAN – BETTING TIPS
Draw
Inter are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions and their tight defence could see them well. While I expect the home side to score, I also expect Inter to take advantage of Bayern’s injury woes. Everything seems set for a score draw here.
Both Teams To Score
Continuing this theme, I expect both teams to score. Inter’s last three games all saw this result, as did five of their last six matches. Bayern’s last three games also saw both teams scoring.
Harry Kane To Score
The England striker netted his 34th goal of the campaign against Augsburg on Friday evening. He is looking to become the first English player to score 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign. Inter’s defence is strong, but not impenetrable, and Kane is certainly a man in form. Kane has scored 39 Champions League goals in his career, and has been directly involved in 50 goals in 55 games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD AND KEY STATS
- Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have played each other nine times, with Bayern winning five. Inter have won three times, while there has been one draw.
- Bayern are on a 22-game unbeaten run at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League (W17 D5).
- Bayern have scored 28 goals in the Champions League this season, second only to Barcelona’s 32.
- Inter have lost four of seven games against Bayern in the Champions League but they have knocked the Bavarian side out of the competition in the last two knockout meetings. Only Real Madrid have knocked Bayern out of the Champions League more times (seven to two).
- Inter Milan have conceded just two goals in their 10 Champions League games so far this season.
- Inter Milan have won only two of their last eight away games in all competitions.
- Inter Milan are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions.
