BERLIN: Bayern Munich experienced its first home defeat in the Champions League in 22 matches, losing 2-1 to Inter Milan during the first leg of their quarterfinal at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
The match began positively for the hosts, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane testing Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer early on. Raphael Guerreiro had the best chance of the first half but was thwarted by the Swiss keeper.
Kane, typically reliable, squandered a prime opportunity from close range around the half-hour mark, a miss that seemed to shift the game's momentum. Just before halftime, Inter capitalized on Bayern's missed chances when Lautaro Martinez scored brilliantly from the edge of the box, assisted by Marcus Thuram's backheel.
In the second half, Bayern pressed forward but found it difficult to penetrate the competition's strongest defense. Guerreiro and Josip Stanisic both came close to scoring, while Leon Goretzka made a vital block to prevent Inter from doubling their lead. With 20 minutes left, Vincent Kompany turned to his bench, bringing on Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry, and Sacha Boey in search of a breakthrough.
The substitutions nearly paid off. Kane shot wide and was later denied by Sommer, but Muller eventually equalized in the 85th minute, converting a cross from Konrad Laimer from close range. However, their celebration was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Inter countered, with Carlos Augusto assisting Davide Frattesi, who calmly slotted the ball into an empty net for the winner.
Bayern now travels to the San Siro needing a comeback to keep their Champions League aspirations alive.
"We fought hard to get back into the game and succeeded, but we could have managed the final moments better," Muller stated. "It's 2-1 to Milan after the first leg, which isn't the outcome we hoped for, but the tie is far from over."
"We had opportunities to score in the first half, played with determination, and created threats," commented Bayern coach Kompany. "It's unfortunate that we conceded that late goal, but we have the chance next week to rectify the situation."
