Inzaghi: Inter beat Bayern Munich ‘playing our football’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi inflicted the first Champions League home defeat on Bayern Munich for four years, noting Inter won it by ‘playing our football and with our principles.’

The Nerazzurri had the better of the first half and took the lead through Lautaro Martinez’s smart finish off the outside of the right boot into the top corner.

After a second half siege, Bayern Munich equalised with the Thomas Muller tap-in, but didn’t count on substitute Davide Frattesi finishing off a rapid attack to seal the 2-1 victory late on.

“Without doubt, we must congratulate the lads. More than the result, I’d focus on the way we played,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.

“We know it is only half-time in the tie, the second will be at San Siro. Bayern are a very strong side, but Inter went toe to toe with them in determination, courage and aggression.”

Inzaghi out-smarted Bayern Munich high press

epa12018858 Head Coach Simone Inzaghi of Inter reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final 1st leg match between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Munich, Germany, 08 April 2025. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

Bayern Munich had not lost a Champions League match at the Allianz Arena for four years, so it is a remarkable achievement for Inter.

“It is certainly a top level result that makes us happy. I think Bayern had won 23 of their last 27 Champions League games here and drawn the other four, so we did something remarkable, but it won’t matter unless we do it in the second leg at San Siro in front of our fans too,” continued Inzaghi.

MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 08: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano at Fussball Arena Muenchen on April 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter

Vincent Kompany seemed to tweak his tactics, leaving Muller on the bench in favour of Raphael Guerreiro to effectively man-mark Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield.

“Bayern did try to press us, but Inter played quality football to emerge from it. The two goals started with our goalkeeper having the ball in his hands, he could’ve hesitated, but instead he went to start those moves out from the back.

“We also deserve credit for believing in the victory to the final minute, despite conceding a goal a few moments earlier,” added Inzaghi.

“We knew that we had to take the initiative off Bayern, which means keeping the ball, not throwing it away, and making it tough for them. Bayern pushed hard in the second half, but the team remained focused and sharp, because scoring at the 88th minute like that shows how much we wanted to keep playing our football and with our principles we’ve been relying on for almost four years now.”