Ex Liverpool & Real Madrid Coach Calls Inter Milan Vs Bayern Munich Champions League Tie ‘A Finale Before The Final’ – Names Two Key Men | OneFootball

Rafa Benitez feels next month’s Champions League quarterfinal between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich is a “final before the final.”

The Spaniard gave his thoughts in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. He named Joshua Kimmich and Hakan Calhanoglu as the key players in that tie.

Inter Milan will face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League in April.

The Nerazzurri booked their place in the next round of the competition by beating Feyenoord in the round of sixteen.

Meanwhile, Bayern cruised past domestic rivals Bayer Leverklusen to reach the last eight.

That quarterfinal tie will certainly pit two of Europe’s most decorated clubs against one another.

Moreover, Inter and Bayern have certainly been two of the most-in-form teams in the Champions League so far this season. On top of being top of their respective domestic leagues.

Rafa Benitez: “Inter Milan Vs Bayern Munich The Final Before The Final”

In the view of former Inter, Napoli, Liverpool, and Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez, “Bayern against Inter has the feel of a final before the final.”

“And it’s the most interesting tie. The most uncertain.”

STUTTGART, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 28: Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman of Bayern Muenchen celebrate with the fans after the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern München at MHPArena on February 28, 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Benitez said the fact that Inter are top of Serie A while Bayern are at the summit in the Bundesliga is “no minor detail.”

“Even if in Germany the title is just a formality now. The Scudetto is a three-horse raise, on the other hand.”

“I don’t know how much that siutuation will affect it,” Benitez continued.

Meanwhile, Benitez anticipated that the decisive factor in the quarterfinal tie could be “injuries.”

“Inter need to get some key players back. Above all Dimarco, but also Darmian and Zalewski, who would be high-level options at wingback.”

“They won’t have time to get Zielinski back,” Benitez noted. “And so they’ll lose a player in the squad rotation who has industry, experience, and intelligence.”

“And it’s yet to see how Thuram and de Vrij will be doing. But the tie will be played in about a month.”

Meanwhile, Benitez said it’s “trick” to pick a key player for both Inter and Bayern. “But I’ll play along with it.”

“Kimmich fully represents Bayern,” said the Spanish coach. “He can do everything.”

“He’s the standard bearer for the club, and now he’s also their leader.”

“But they have a long list of world-class players. The same is true of Inter, who have as their most authoritative player Calhanoglu.”

“Kimmich and Calha are two massive players,” said Benitez. “It will be a battle of their minds.”