A breathtaking second half at San Siro brought a Champions League quarter-final for the ages to a close as Inter Milan clinched a dramatic 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, following a 2-2 draw on the night.
Coming into the second leg with a slender 2-1 advantage, Inter knew Bayern would throw everything at them—and the German giants wasted no time.
Just seven minutes into the second half, Harry Kane pulled Bayern level in the tie with a clinical finish, breathing life into the visitors’ hopes. But Inter responded with the heart of a champion.
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Lautaro Martinez restored parity on the night and Inter’s aggregate advantage in the 58th minute, slamming home from close range after a well-worked corner fell kindly in the box.
The Nerazzurri faithful had barely caught their breath when Benjamin Pavard, facing his former club, powered a bullet header into the back of the net just three minutes later, putting Inter 4-2 up on aggregate.
Eric Dier handed Bayern a lifeline with 14 minutes to play, steering a looping header across goal and into the far corner to make it 4-3 on aggregate, setting up a tense finale.
But despite a relentless push from the Bundesliga side, Inter’s defence held firm, sealing a famous victory in front of their raucous home support.
However, it was the Italian giants’ clinical set-piece execution and steely resolve that proved the difference.
With Bayern’s elimination, both they and Borussia Dortmund exit at the quarter-final stage, marking a sobering night for German football.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan march on, setting up a mouthwatering semi-final showdown with Barcelona—an opportunity for redemption after their heartbreak in the 2023 final.
For Inter, the dream lives on. For Bayern, it’s the end of the road.
Wednesday’s victory for the Nerazzurri will see them square against Barcelona for the semi-finals.
