Inter Milan secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals following an eventful draw with Bayern Munich at San Siro. Holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg, the Italian side were briefly pegged back when Harry Kane fired in a precise finish early in the second half.
That equalizer jolted Inter into action. Lautaro Martinez reacted quickly from a corner, smashing the ball in from close range. Moments later, Benjamin Pavard made it 2-1 on the night, rising highest to meet Hakan Calhanoglu’s set-piece with a forceful header.
The German visitors responded, and with just over a quarter of an hour left, Eric Dier sent a looping header into the net from a difficult angle. Bayern pushed forward in the closing moments and nearly forced extra time, but Thomas Muller’s stoppage-time header was kept out by Yann Sommer.
Late drama and high emotions
As the final seconds ticked away, tensions boiled over. Bayern substitute Josip Stanisic shoved a ballboy to the ground after the youngster delayed returning the ball. Speaking after the game, Stanisic admitted fault, saying, “It was a bit stupid of me to push him there.”
Inter’s passage to the next round sets up a clash with Barcelona. Simone Inzaghi’s team remain in pursuit of a historic treble, currently leading Serie A and with a Coppa Italia semi-final also on the horizon.
Game shaped by key moments
Bayern had more control in the first half but couldn’t create many clear chances. Inter defended with intensity, making vital tackles when necessary. The breakthrough came after the interval when Federico Dimarco gave Kane too much space, allowing the forward to pick his spot.
Martinez’s quick reply marked his fifth consecutive Champions League match with a goal, while Pavard scored his first for Inter against the club he once played for. Dier’s equalizer, also his maiden Bayern goal, kept hopes alive briefly for the visitors.
However, the defining moment could have belonged to Muller or Kane in the dying minutes. But Inter stood firm, surviving the pressure to book their place in the last four.
