Inter Must Break Historic Home Losing Streak To Eclipse Bayern Munich

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi says his side must wipe the first-leg scoreline from their minds ahead of their return UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout match with Bayern Munich.

The Italian side has a one-goal lead after winning 2-1 away last week. Davide Frattesi’s late strike gives Inter a much-needed cushion, and a draw will suffice at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday for Inter to qualify for the semi-finals.

There is much to like about this Inter side, including their outstanding UCL home record, unbeaten in 14 consecutive games.

Combined with their recent form – undefeated in 12 matches since mid-February – it will take something special from this injury-ravaged Bayern side coming off a 2-2 Bundesliga draw against Borussia Dortmund.

History repeating?

Fighting on three fronts – Serie A, Italian Cup and UCL – the pressure and injury toll has made life difficult in Appiano Gentile, Inter’s training facility. Aspiring for a treble is easier said than done, and no competition is more challenging to win than the elusive Champions League.

Inter fell at the final hurdle in 2023, losing to Manchester City in Istanbul. Last season, the Nerazzurri were eliminated in the Round of 16 when Atletico Madrid beat them on penalties. In the Spanish capital, Davy Klassen, Alexis Sanchez and Lautaro Martinez were all denied from the spot.

Fueled by the desire to add to their three UCL/European Cup trophies, the last during the Jose Mourinho tenure of 2010, Inter (19) showed discipline to finish only behind Liverpool (21) on points in the group stage.

Securing a semi-final berth against Barcelona is the next objective.

Bayern stand in the way

It will take something special from the likes of Harry Kane and Leroy Sané if Bayern is to penetrate an Inter defence which has conceded in only three of eleven Champions League outings this term. Conversely, La Beneamata has shipped goals in each of their past three Serie A matches against bottom-half sides Parma, Udinese and Cagliari.

For big sides with big dreams, April is traditionally the toughest month of the season. And when asked whether his players were capable of withstanding the pressure of competing on three fronts, Inzaghi responded by flipping the script.

“More than tension, there is great pride for the way this season is developing,” the 49-year-old said.

In truth, there’s plenty for Inter fans to be proud of.

Inzaghi’s side sits atop the Serie A standings and is resolutely poised to fight for three pieces of silverware over the next six weeks. Along with their Coppa Italia ambitions – the semi-final against Milan next week – the former Lazio coach knows that overcoming Bayern at the Meazza will put the twenty-time Italian champions on track to repeat the famous 2010 treble.

“Tomorrow will be a very difficult match. We have to forget the result of the first leg but not the performance because we played a great game in Munich.”

Davide Frattesi netted an 88th-minute winner at the Allianz Arena to snatch victory after Thomas Muller replied to Lautaro Martinez’s opener. Inter proved more clinical on the night, landing two goals from ten shots on target, but Die Roten were unlucky not to score multiple goals despite the array of injuries hampering the squad.

“We know how high the value of our opponent is,” Inzaghi continued. “We will have to play a great game with the right attitude.”

Historically, Inter have held their nerve in UCL knockout situations, having progressed in 21 of the past 23 knockout ties in which they won the first leg.

But the Milanese will have to be at their best to withstand the Bayern onslaught led by Kane (34 goals and 12 assists in all competitions). The Germans arrive knowing they’ve won all four previous European competition away clashes against Inter, a run of perfection dating back to 1988. Crucially, it’s Inter’s worst losing sequence at home against any single foreign opponent.

If Bayern coach Vincent Company is to continue that streak, his 4-2-3-1 system needs to work cohesively to withstand the double threat that Marcus Thuram and Martinez pose. The pair combined impeccably to break the deadlock last week, and the latter could make history by becoming the first Inter player to strike in five consecutive Champions League appearances.

“Sometimes they’re special nights,” Kompany told us in his pre-match address. “They’re nights that can be decided by one moment.

“Hopefully, we have the chances again, like in the first leg – maybe there won’t be as many. We have to be there in those moments, defend well and score the goals up front. The belief is there; at the end of the day, we just need to win one match. We always play to win.

“It’s the best team in Italy against the best team in Germany at the moment. The stadium is also one of the best there is. It doesn’t get much better.”