Inter Milan secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a pulsating 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich at the San Siro, progressing 4-3 on aggregate.
The result capped off a gripping quarter-final second leg and extended Inter’s perfect record in European knockout ties after winning the first leg away from home.
Facing an injury-depleted Bayern side, the atmosphere at the San Siro was always bound to be intense. Vincent Kompany’s men, however, showed their intent early, with veteran forward Thomas Müller causing problems for the hosts, linking up well with Michael Olise to generate early opportunities. Inter were forced into a critical defensive intervention from Alessandro Bastoni to deny Olise, while Federico Dimarco and Hakan Çalhanoğlu came close at the other end.
As halftime approached, Bayern ramped up the pressure. Leroy Sané and Joshua Kimmich both tested Inter keeper Yann Sommer, but the Swiss shot-stopper held firm, ensuring Inter maintained their impressive defensive record—conceding just one first-half goal in the tournament so far.
That resistance didn’t last long after the break. Harry Kane, relatively quiet in the first half, latched onto a pass from Leon Goretzka and lashed a low strike past Sommer to give Bayern the lead on the night.
But Inter responded in style, as they did in the first leg. Lautaro Martínez capitalized on a loose ball after a corner, smashing home to restore parity and ignite the San Siro. In doing so, the Argentine became the first Inter player to score in five consecutive UCL appearances.
The momentum swung further in Inter’s favor when former Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard rose above Kim Min-jae to head powerfully into the net, sending the home crowd into ecstasy. Eric Dier briefly reignited Bayern’s hopes with a spectacular looping header from a tight angle, but it proved too little, too late.
Despite Bayern’s late push, including a surge of pressure in stoppage time, Inter held firm to preserve their 15-match unbeaten home run in the UCL—currently the longest active streak in the competition.
The 2010 champions now look ahead to a blockbuster semi-final showdown with Barcelona, eyeing a return to the final for the second time in three seasons.
For Bayern and Kane, another Champions League campaign ends in disappointment, though the Bundesliga title remains within reach.
