Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter: Champions League quarter-final first leg – as it happened (2025)

You can read the full report here. Thanks for joining me, it’s been fun – and the second leg will be one to watch. Arrivederci.

Here’s Nick Ames’ verdict from the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich have everything to do if they are to claim the Champions League on home turf. This was a party thoroughly spoiled by Inter, who might have feared the worst when Thomas Müller scored a rapturously-received equaliser five minutes from time. Müller’s 25-year spell at Bayern will end this summer and everybody thought they could read the script. Then the substitute Davide Frattesi ripped it up, adding to Lautaro Martínez’s brilliant opener and exacerbating the potential costliness of a glaring first-half miss from Harry Kane.

Looking back at that second Inter goal, it came from a Müller cross that deflected back to Sommer. He thought about a quick throw, then took a breath and waited for Barella, who picked it up, played a one-two with Martinez in the centre circle, then prodded through for Augusto to run clear. Devastating stuff.

I think most of us, looking at the quarter-final bracket, would have picked Real Madrid v Bayern or Barcelona as the most likely final. Well, that’s out of the window. Neither Real nor Bayern are out yet, of course, but tonight’s results show the trophy is up for grabs. Why not Arsenal? Why not Inter? Why not … Villa?

In tonight’s other game, it’s finished Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid. No big deal.

After Lautaro Martínez’s brilliant opener, Inter held Bayern at arm’s length until Thomas Müller came from the bench to level. Just as Bayern looked to turn the screw, Inter broke away to score again through Davide Frattesi, and take charge of the tie. Work to do at San Siro, but tonight’s result is a huge blow to Bayern’s hope of playing in a Champions League final in Munich.

94 mins: It’s curled in dangerously, but Sommer punches clear and after a spot of penalty-box pinball, Dier is penalised for upending Thuram.

93 mins: Zalewski goes in the book for a foul on Stanisic. Bayern free kick out on the right, taken by Kimmich …

91 mins: And they almost get it through Kane, who is somehow levered off the ball as he tried to head home Laimer’s cross!

90 mins: Some admin: Frattesi was booked for whipping his shirt off, and Nicola Zalewski is on for Martinez. Four added minutes, as Bayern search for another equaliser …

The noise was building and Inter were rocking but a quick break finds Bayern’s backline ragged – essentially, it’s just Eric Dier, who plays Carlos Augusto onside from Barella’s pass. He motors into the box and crosses for Davide Frattesi, who crashes home from close range!

Mamma mia. Inter have ripped up the script and retaken the lead!

86 mins: Suddenly, Bayern sense there’s still time to win this first leg – and Kane’s shot is almost spilled into danger by Sommer, who gets up just in time to grab the rebound!

Kimmich whips in a cross that beats everyone in the middle, but Laimer takes his time to bring it down and pick out a cross. At the far post, Müller escapes his man and prods into the net. The crowd roar his name. Narrative, you’ve got to love it.

Of course it’s him. Thomas Müller levels for Bayern!

81 mins: Ooooof! Gnabry twists and turns to the byline and cuts it back. Just for a second it all opens up for Müller, 12 yards out, to write tomorrow’s headlines – but Bastoni throws himself in the way of the shot! From the corner, a speculative effort from Boey flies high and wide.

80 mins: Kane fires an awkward effort wide of the far post. Ten minutes and some change for Bayern to get on the scoresheet.

78 mins: Darmian’s shift is over, replaced by Yann Bisseck, a centre-half who was born in Cologne. I would imagine he slots into the three-man defence, with Pavard moving to right wing-back.

77 mins: Gnabry sends a shot high into the side netting. He’s out on the left, with Müller in the middle. Oh, and it’s Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid. Has this year’s Champions League just been blown wide open?

76 mins: Thuram is penalised for a foul on Stanisic. Meanwhile, Jamie O’Sullivan wonders if this Philipp Lahm piece was pinned on the Inter dressing room wall earlier:

One change for Inter, too: the booked Mhitaryan is replaced by Davide Frattesi.

Three Bayern changes: Müller, Gnabry and full-back Sacha Boey come on, replacing Sané, Kim and Guerreiro.

… Declan Rice. He’s just scored another exceptional free kick, and Arsenal lead Real Madrid 2-0!

72 mins: Kimmich takes the free kick and wafts it straight into Sommer’s hands. I tell you who Bayern should sign …

71 mins: Mkhitaryan brings Kane down 30 yards out, and is booked. On the touchline, Thomas Müller is getting ready to come on, to roars of approval from the home fans.

70 mins: Bayern are definitely missing Musiala’s trickery, and their bench options are thin. It looks like Serge Gnabry may be coming on, rather than Müller.

69 mins: Laimer tries to play a long-range one-two with Olise, but the winger’s return pass is overhit.

67 mins: Olise tries to burrow through Inter’s low block, then opts to play it wide for Sané, who mistimes his run and sees the ball skid past him. Frustration grows for Bayern.

66 mins: Thuram draws a cheap free-kick from Kim, and while Inter don’t make use of it, Bayern have to start building pressure again. Surely Kompany must be thinking about changes.

64 mins: They very nearly do here, with Guerreiro pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of the area and smashing an effort just over the bar.

63 mins: Kimmich’s cross towards Kane is smartly headed clear by Acerbi. Inter absolutely hate conceding goals.

62 mins: Laimer gets a decent cross in, which Stanisic can only head over the bar from six yards out. Still, Bayern seem to be finally clearing their heads.

Over at the Emirates, Arsenal lead Real Madrid – thanks to an absolute belter of a free kick from Declan Rice.

60 mins: Stanisic’s cross from deep is curled towards Kimmich, but Sommer claims it. Barella has gone down, apparently caught in the ribs by Harry Kane’s arm – accidentally, I should add.

58 mins: Bayern try to get a foothold in possession, a long spell on the ball building to Sané’s cross, which is just beyond everyone in off-white. Goretzka then barrels into the area but is closed down effectively.

56 mins: Bayern do get some space upfield here, with Kane finding Sané, whose hopeful effort is blocked and eventually cleared.

55 mins: Inter surge forward again and Thuram plays in Martinez, whose shot from a tight angle is parried by Urbig. A big save, and Goretzka is there to stop Mkhitaryan poking in the loose ball.

54 mins: Inter look the more threatening so far in the second half, with Thuram cruising past Laimer down the left, but just failing to connect with Martinez in the middle.

53 mins: Martinez goes into the book for a clumsy hack on Olise, who was breaking away but without much support.

52 mins: Thuram is brought down in the Bayern half, and Calhanoglu hits his free kick low into Martinez. Bayern’s defence is half-asleep, and only a well-timed Goretzka intervention stops Martinez from getting his shot away.

50 mins: Thuram tries to harry Kim off the ball and while the defender gets it away, it’s straight back to Inter.

48 mins: Just to add another layer of pressure, this year’s final is at the Allianz Arena. Might we see Thomas Müller, dreaming of a perfect Bayern farewell in the final, make an appearance in this second half?

47 mins: Kim plays a long diagonal ball for Sané to chase, but it bounces through to Sommer.

We go again. Bayern always score at home, but they really can’t afford not to in this second half.

To be honest, I was expecting a pretty cagey affair – but it’s been great entertainment so far. Then again, the last game I watched in full was the Manchester derby, so …

In the Women’s Nations League, England are 3-1 down against Belgium – the team they beat 5-0 last week. Simon Burnton is seeing if the Lionesses can mount a comeback.

It’s 0-0 at the Emirates, where both teams have had their chances in a lively first half.

“If Thuram meant that backheel – and he’s good enough to give him the benefit of the doubt – that was a positively Gutiesque assist,” writes Kári Tulinius. Initially, I was annoyed that he didn’t just didn’t take the shot – shows what I know.

Bayern started the stronger side and should have led through Harry Kane, but after the England captain hit the post, Inter regrouped and took the lead with a brilliant team goal, finished off by Lautaro Martínez. It’s been good fun so far.

45 mins: Olise’s deep cross finds Sané stretching at the far post, and his volley back across goal is blocked by Bastoni. Bayern players appeal for handball, but the ball came off the defender’s chest.

44 mins: Bayern try to build momentum going forward but Martínez gets a boot in to clear, and the hosts have to build again. One added minute to play …

41 mins: The offside flag is up against Augusto down the left. Bayern look a bit dazed after conceding, and could use half time to settle down again.

There was a mercifully brief VAR hiccup, with a check to ensure Thuram was onside. He was, and the goal stands! Not for the first time this season, Bayern have conceded a goal from the opposition’s first shot on target.

Martínez starts the move in the centre-circle, sweeping it left before charging upfield. Augusto’s cross finds Thuram, who smartly backheels into the path of Martínez, arriving just in time – and his first-time shot flies into the top corner! Deadly.

And now the visitors lead! It’s a fantastic team goal, finished beautifully by Lautaro Martínez!

35 mins: Kane is tackled smartly by Mkhitaryan in midfield and Inter are able to regain the ball. They ought to be behind, but are growing into the game again now.

33 mins: It almost works again here with Barella, dropping into a Beckenbauer-esque defensive position, drills a long pass to Martínez. With Bayern’s midfield disappearing, he only has Kim to beat – but slips and sees the chance pass him by.