Decimated Bayern Munich Defeated 2-1 By Inter Milan

Inter Milan will take a significant advantage back to the San Siro after beating Bayern Munich 2-1 in front of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. The Italians took the lead in the first half with Lautaro Martínez scoring in the 39th minute. Thomas Müller then appeared to be the hero when he equalized late (86’), only for Davide Frattesi to snatch the win two minutes later for the visitors.

The loss ends Bayern Munich’s run of 22 home games without a defeat in the Champions League. It is the latest record run to end under head coach Vincent Kompany this season. The Rekordmeister also saw their 41-game unbeaten streak in the group stage end when Bayern was defeated by Aston Villa earlier this season.

This latest result adds to what has been an overall difficult run in the competition this season. Indeed, poor performances in the league stage meant that Bayern was forced to play two extra games in the playoff stage.

Those extra games, in fact, might be one of the reasons Bayern has struggled with injuries. Manuel Neuer (torn muscle fibre), Dayot Upamecano (cartilage damage), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal injury), Alphonso Davies (torn ACL), Aleksandar Pavlovic (recovery from illness), Kingsley Coman (fitness issues), and Jamal Musiala all missed the Inter Milan game.

Despite all those injury concerns, Bayern, on balance, kept the match tight and, perhaps over the last 30-minute stretch, was the better team. “It certainly wasn’t our best performance of the season, but it wasn’t a deserved defeat either,” Bayern star Joshua Kimmich said after the game. “The result isn’t great for us. But we all feel that something is still possible.”

It certainly felt like more was possible on Tuesday night, especially after Müller’s equalizer. The 35-year-old was in the headlines all week after Bayern confirmed they would not sign the superstar playmaker to a new contract for next season. \

Although he communicated his disappointment about the decision, Müller vowed in a social media post this week that he would give everything for his career to end with a trophy. In true fashion, Müller came up big time to score the equalizer.

“We know that Thomas Müller always plays an important role for us,” Kompany said. “He came on, did well, and scored a goal. He brought a good moment for us.” But with Musiala injured, why didn’t Müller start? The decision was purely a footballing decision,” Kompany added.

Instead, the Belgian head coach started Raphaël Guerreiro in the no.10 role. This was an interesting choice. Although Guerreiro has played in midfield as a deep-lying playmaker, the no.10 role was new for him. Ultimately, Guerreiro playing there didn’t cost Bayern the game, but it didn’t add the attacking impulse the club needed, either.

With that in mind, would Kompany have been better off starting Müller instead? “He’s still in good shape, physically and mentally,” Bayern star striker Harry Kane said. “Whenever he gets his minutes, he helps the team.”

Without a doubt, Müller did on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena. Was it enough to convince Kompany to start him one week from now, when Bayern need a win to advance to the competition’s semifinals?

“We tried to come back, we managed to do that, then conceded a goal from a counter where we should’ve done better,” Müller said. “We had imagined a different outcome here today, but it’s only half time. We know there’s still a lot possible.”

After all, the Rekordmeister has set a record by appearing in the Champions League quarterfinals for the 23rd time. It is a remarkable run, but in that span, the club has won the title just three times. With the final in Munich this year, there is a sense that it is time to better that record, adding further pressure on a must-win game in Italy next week.