Bayern Munich will face off against Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday, April 8. This highly anticipated clash pits two European football giants against each other, with Bayern hosting the opening match of this two-legged tie.
Bayern Munich, under Vincent Kompany’s management, are currently leading the Bundesliga, sitting six points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen with six games remaining in the domestic season.
Their Champions League campaign has been strong, highlighted by a dominant 5-0 aggregate victory over Leverkusen in the round of 16.
However, Bayern are grappling with a significant injury crisis, with key players like Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, and Aleksandar Pavlović sidelined.
Despite these absences, Harry Kane remains a focal point of their attack, boasting an impressive 34 goals in 39 appearances this season across all competitions.
Bayern will look to leverage their home advantage and attacking depth, with players like Michael Olise and Thomas Müller (in his final season with the club) expected to step up.
Inter Milan, led by Simone Inzaghi, are in excellent form, sitting atop Serie A with a four-point lead over Napoli (who have a game in hand). The Nerazzurri have been defensively resolute in the Champions League, conceding just two goals in their ten matches this season. They secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win over Feyenoord in the last 16.
Inter’s recent form includes a 10-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, though their latest result was a 2-2 draw against Parma. With a treble still in sight—remaining in contention for Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League—Inter will aim to exploit Bayern’s depleted squad while relying on stars like Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram.
This matchup is shaping up as a classic clash of styles: Bayern’s high-intensity, attack-minded approach versus Inter’s disciplined defensive organization and counter-attacking threat. Bayern are likely to dominate possession and press aggressively to force turnovers, with Kane and Olise posing significant dangers in the final third.
Inter, meanwhile, will look to absorb pressure and hit Bayern on the break, utilizing their compact backline—featuring Alessandro Bastoni and former Bayern player Benjamin Pavard—and the creativity of Hakan Çalhanoğlu in midfield.
Injuries could play a decisive role. Bayern’s makeshift defense, potentially including Eric Dier and Konrad Laimer, may struggle against Inter’s quick transitions, while Inter will need to manage without the injured Piotr Zieliński and possibly Denzel Dumfries (doubtful). The return of ex-Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer in Inter’s net adds an intriguing subplot, as he’ll face his former club.
The two sides have met nine times historically, with Bayern holding a slight edge at five wins to Inter’s three (one draw). Their most notable encounter was the 2010 Champions League final, where Inter triumphed 2-0 under José Mourinho.
More recently, Bayern won both group-stage matches in the 2022/23 season (2-0 each), suggesting a psychological edge at home.
Prediction
Despite Bayern’s injury woes, their attacking firepower and home record in the Champions League make them slight favorites. Inter’s defensive solidity and counter-attacking prowess, however, could keep the game tight.
A narrow Bayern victory, perhaps 2-1, seems plausible, with Kane likely to score, though Inter’s resilience might secure them a vital away goal to take back to the San Siro for the second leg on April 16.
