Inter Milan scored a late winner to stun Bayern Munich in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg. Davide Frattesi snatched a 2-1 victory two minutes from time to take a narrow first-leg lead back to the San Siro next week.
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez had put the visitors in the driving seat after 38 minutes, drilling the ball into the net from a superb Marcus Thuram backheel. Bayern had earlier hit the post through Harry Kane, but it was Inter Milan who capitalized on their chances.
Bayern leveled three minutes earlier through substitute Thomas Mueller, a player leaving the club at the end of the season after 25 years as Bayern did not offer him a new contract. However, Inter Milan responded with a deadly counter-attack, Martinez freed Carlos Augusto down the wing, and the Brazilian fired a violent cross that Davide Frattesi tapped-in to score the winner in the 88th minute.
“We still fully believe in our chances in Milan,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. “We have lost and we had our chances in both halves but the results are not always fair.” Kompany added, “If you see how many chances we had against a defensive-minded Inter. Normally if we get these chances we score two or three goals.”
The treble-chasing Italians, who have conceded three goals in their 11 Champions League matches so far this season, host Bayern in the return leg on April 16. The winners of the quarter-final will face either Borussia Dortmund or Barcelona, who play their first leg on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich’s players were largely unable to capitalize on their chances, with notable performances from Konrad Laimer (8.3/10) and Harry Kane (7.5/10). Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez (8.4/10) and Yann Sommer (8.2/10) were among the top performers for the visitors.
The match saw several key moments, including a stellar play from Michael Olise that led to Harry Kane hitting the post. Inter Milan’s defensive block proved stout, with Francesco Acerbi (7.1/10) and Alessandro Bastoni (7.9/10) providing solidity at the back.
The return leg promises to be an exciting encounter, with Inter Milan looking to defend their advantage and Bayern Munich seeking to turn the tables. The match will be a thrilling conclusion to the quarter-final, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.