We turn our attention to Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Allianz Arena with our Bayern Munich vs Inter preview and prediction. Can Harry Kane and company secure an advantage to carry into the return leg in Milan?
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Bayern Munich vs Inter: Preview
Although Bayern Munich ceded the Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen last season, winning the German title is often seen as the bare minimum for any Bayern boss. For Vincent Kompany, true success will be measured by his ability to guide the club to UEFA Champions League glory.
Standing in his way is an Inter Milan side currently unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions. Under Simone Inzaghi’s leadership, the Nerazzurri have earned a reputation as one of Europe’s elite.
This quarter-final clash promises to be tightly contested. According to the Opta Power Rankings, Bayern are currently the seventh-best team in the world, while Inter sit two spots higher in fifth.
Bayern will benefit from an extra day’s rest leading into the fixture, having secured a 3-1 win over Augsburg on Friday. Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala both found the net, helping the Bavarians maintain their six-point cushion atop the Bundesliga table.
Inter, on the other hand, let a two-goal lead slip away in their visit to Parma on Saturday, settling for a draw that could prove costly in their pursuit of the Serie A title.
Bayern will need to make the most of their formidable home record at the Allianz Arena if they are to overcome a resilient Inter side. The Rekordmeister haven’t suffered a Champions League defeat on home soil since April 2021, when they fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals. Since then, they’ve gone 22 games unbeaten at home in Europe, recording 17 wins and five draws.
However, finding the net won’t be straightforward. Inter have been rock-solid defensively in this season’s Champions League, conceding just twice across 10 matches—a testament to their discipline and structure under Inzaghi.
That defensive record puts Inter in elite company—among teams to have played 10 or more matches in a single European Cup or Champions League campaign, their clean sheet rate of 80% in the 2024–25 season is unmatched, with eight shutouts in 10 games.
Breaking down such a watertight backline requires something special—and Bayern have that in the form of Harry Kane, one of the finest strikers of his generation.
Kane’s Champions League record speaks for itself: across 55 appearances in the competition, he’s been directly involved in 50 goals, netting 39 times and providing 11 assists—a testament to his consistency and world-class pedigree on Europe’s biggest stage.
This season alone, Kane has outperformed his appearances in terms of goal contributions, registering 10 goals and two assists in just 11 Champions League outings.
Supporting him is Michael Olise, who has set up Kane in each of Bayern’s last two matches. The Frenchman has racked up four assists in his last three games for club and country, highlighting his growing influence in the final third.
Together, Kane and Olise are part of a dynamic Bayern attack that doesn’t just pose a threat going forward, but also stifles opponents from building play. Bayern are averaging 122 high-intensity pressures in the final third per game in this season’s Champions League—the highest across the competition in 2024–25.
They’re also forcing close to 13 high turnovers per match, a figure only bettered once in recent memory—by Bayern themselves during the 2021–22 campaign.
Inter certainly possess attacking firepower of their own, spearheaded by club captain Lautaro Martínez. The Argentine has scored six goals in this season’s Champions League, averaging one every 80 minutes. Not since the 2010–11 campaign—when Samuel Eto’o netted eight times, including his final goal away at Bayern in the round of 16—has an Inter player surpassed that tally in a single edition of the tournament.
Another threat emerges from the left wing, where the left-footed Federico Dimarco has proven a consistent source of creativity and end product. He has been directly involved in 11 goals across all competitions this season, with four goals and seven assists to his name.
However, Dimarco will be without his usual right-flank counterpart, Denzel Dumfries, who remains out with a muscle injury—a blow to Inter’s attacking balance.
Bayern, meanwhile, are also navigating a challenging injury list and will need to rely on their squad depth. Key players like Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, and Alphonso Davies remain unavailable, while Jamal Musiala has officially been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring tear in the win over Augsburg.
Musiala’s absence could open the door for a start for club legend Thomas Müller. The 35-year-old recently announced that this will be his final season with Bayern after 25 years at the club. Just three goals shy of the 250 milestone in Bayern colours, Müller has a rich history in Europe’s elite competition—he ranks sixth in all-time Champions League knockout-stage goals with 27 strikes, often saving his best for the biggest occasions.
Bayern Munich vs Inter: Head-to-Head
Bayern hold the edge in the overall head-to-head between the two sides in European competition, winning five of their nine meetings, while Inter have come out on top three times, with one draw separating them.
However, history favours the Italians when it comes to knockout clashes. Inter have eliminated Bayern on both previous occasions in the Champions League knockout stages—first with a 2-0 victory in the 2009–10 final, and then via away goals in a dramatic Round of 16 tie during the 2010–11 season.
Bayern Munich vs Inter: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Bayern Munich – Team News
Bayern may be at home on Tuesday, but their squad is severely depleted ahead of Inter’s visit. Jamal Musiala, who has been one of their standout performers with 18 goals this season, has suffered a hamstring setback that could rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.
The injury list doesn’t stop there—Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, and Aleksandar Pavlovic are all unavailable, while Manuel Neuer and Kingsley Coman remain serious doubts. Leon Goretzka and Raphael Guerreiro are still not fully fit and may not be risked, as both are in the final stages of rehabilitation.
With options thinning, Vincent Kompany may be forced to call upon veteran Thomas Müller more frequently. The experienced forward, who will bid farewell to Bayern at the end of the season, could be handed a starting role in the absence of key creative forces.
On a brighter note, Harry Kane appears ready for action despite being spotted with an ice pack on his ankle during Friday’s outing. The England captain has brushed off injury concerns and looks set to lead the attack, having already made history as the first Englishman to net 10 goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Bayern Munich – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeper – Urbig
- Defenders – Laimer, Kim, Dier, Stanisic
- Midfielders – Goretzka, Kimmich, Muller
- Forwards – Muller, Sane, Kane
Inter – Team News
Inter head into the clash in considerably better shape than their German counterparts. Midfield enforcer Kristjan Asllani is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while minor injuries are set to sideline Denzel Dumfries, Medhi Taremi, and Piotr Zielinski.
Defensive concerns briefly flared over Alessandro Bastoni, who was taken off at the break during the draw with Parma due to a knee issue. However, the Italian centre-back is expected to recover in time to feature in the first leg.
With Zielinski and Asllani both unavailable, Simone Inzaghi is likely to turn to Davide Frattesi in midfield, slotting him alongside Hakan Calhanoglu and the experienced Henrikh Mkhitaryan. That trio will operate just behind the in-form attacking duo of Marcus Thuram and captain Lautaro Martínez.
Inter – Predicted XI (3-5-2)
- Goalkeper – Sommer
- Defenders – Acerbi, Acerbi, Bastoni
- Midfielders – Darmian, Calhanoglu, Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco
- Forwards – Thuram, Martinez
Bayern Munich vs Inter: Prediction
Despite holding home advantage at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich head into the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final on the back foot due to a lengthy injury list. With key players like Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano, and Manuel Neuer sidelined, Vincent Kompany will be forced to rely heavily on Harry Kane and veteran Thomas Müller for inspiration. Kane’s clinical record in Europe remains a threat, but Bayern’s defensive absences could leave them vulnerable.
Inter, on the other hand, are in better physical shape and come into the match with greater squad depth and momentum. Their defensive structure has been one of the most solid in the tournament, conceding just twice in 10 games, while Lautaro Martínez continues to lead the line with precision. Even with a couple of key midfield absences, Inter have the quality to control the tempo and capitalize on Bayern’s frailties.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter Milan
When and Where to Watch Bayern Munich vs Inter Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-finals first leg between Bayern Munich and Inter will take place at the Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich, Germany. The match is set for April 9 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
FAQs
What is the latest team news for Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan?
Bayern will be without key players like Jamal Musiala, Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, and Dayot Upamecano, while Inter miss Kristjan Asllani, Piotr Zielinski, and Denzel Dumfries.
Who are the key players for Bayern Munich against Inter?
Harry Kane leads the attack with 10 goals in this Champions League campaign, supported by Michael Olise and veteran Thomas Müller.
How has Inter performed defensively in the Champions League this season?
Inter have kept 8 clean sheets in 10 matches, boasting the highest clean sheet percentage in a single campaign in tournament history (80%).
What is Bayern Munich’s home record in the Champions League?
Bayern are unbeaten in their last 22 Champions League home games, winning 17 and drawing 5 since April 2021.
What is the head-to-head record between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan?
Bayern have won 5 of their 9 meetings with Inter, but the Italians have knocked them out both times in the Champions League knockout stages.
