Bayern Munich’s Champions dream faces Inter Milan’s perfect trap | OneFootball

The Allianz Arena will be ready to explode. And that's not hyperbole. Bayern Munich and Inter Milan will be on the field when they begin the Champions League quarterfinals, and anything is on the table, old baggage, increased stakes, recent missteps, major injuries, a top scorer playing on a sore ankle, and a coach who just announced he's retiring after 25 years at the club.

Bayern manages but just barely on patch work

FC Bayern München Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter | Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages

Bayern is going through one of those times when it feels like everything is being kept together by a thread. They stumbled through the initial phases, made it through a playoff against Celtic by the skin of their teeth, then worked their way through Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16. Now they're finally being given a clearer path to the final, which, coincidentally, will be at home. The problem? This team has gaps all over.

Musiala, who was in shape, limped off. Pavlovic, Davies, Coman, Upamecano, and Ito didn't even play the last game. Neuer, the legend of the team, hasn't come back yet. And even Harry Kane, who's been topping the goal-scoring list with 23 in the Bundesliga and 10 in the Champions League, limped off with a swollen ankle. Can he play? He insists so. But playing at full throttle is a different ball game altogether.

Inter are hip, but dangerously so

Lautaro Martínez | Alessandro Sabattini/GettyImages

While Bayern struggles with the pressure of performing in front of its home faithful, Inter Milan arrives with the handbrake half on, but that sort of cool can be unnerving. They're at the top of Serie A, have a deep roster, and glided through the group stage without even needing a playoff.

In round of 16, they had no issue with Feyenoord. Over the weekend, they lost to Parma, but this did not rock the dressing room, who are still solidly behind Inzaghi, in spite of him being suspended last time out. This is a team that is able to keep its energy under control. And they're coming with smiling faces: Sommer and Pavard, both with solid knowledge of Bayern, are now on the other side. Lautaro is back fit.

The pressure of hosting

The final will be held at the Allianz. That's no small thing. Bayern is playing for a potential at glory, in front of their own fans. But that kind of pressure comes from both sides. Sure, it fires up the crowd. But it puts pressure on, too. And let us not forget history: 15 years ago Inter knocked Bayern out of the Champions League in a bitter denouement. Müller, who played in that game, has already confirmed he's off at the end of this season. He doesn't wish to relive that denouement.

The ideal situation for Inter would be to depart Munich with a draw, goals accounted for, or a slim victory. They know Bayern will play aggressively, they know the supporters will expect results, and they know each nervous minute might become an expensive error. That's precisely what Inzaghi is relying on. This is a team that doesn't have to impress to win. It simply needs its rival to make a mistake.

And if Inzaghi has his full roster at his disposal, which is something he's clearly hoping for, he'll be all the better prepared to plug up the gaps. Dumfries is still a doubt, as is Zielinski, but the core of the team is intact. And there's plenty of confidence inside.