After a 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at their home ground, Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich faces a tough challenge. Vincent Kompany`s squad needs to overturn the deficit in the second leg at the San Siro, known for its intimidating atmosphere and passionate home support. Adding to Bayern`s difficulties, key players like goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Jamal Musiala, and defender Alphonso Davies are sidelined with injuries and will miss the crucial match in Milan. Despite these obstacles, and facing a strong Inter side considered a contender for the title, there are reasons to believe Bayern Munich can still achieve a comeback.
Inter`s Recent Defensive Vulnerabilities
While Inter boasts an impressive defensive record in the Champions League this season, conceding only three goals in 11 matches and suffering just one defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the group stage, recent performances suggest some weaknesses. Despite goalkeeper Yann Sommer`s leading position in Europe for clean sheets across league and European competitions (20 in 41 games), Inter have only managed two clean sheets in their last ten games. These recent defensive lapses, although minor, could be exploited by a potent attacking force like Bayern Munich, especially with a striker of Harry Kane`s caliber. However, Bayern and Kane must be clinical and capitalize on any opportunities, unlike their performance in the first leg in Munich.
Inzaghi`s Rotation Challenges Due to Injuries
Similar to Bayern`s injury woes, Inter is also dealing with injuries to key players, specifically winger Denzel Dumfries and midfielder Piotr Zielinski. These absences limit coach Simone Inzaghi`s ability to rotate the squad, a tactic he frequently employed earlier in the season, especially in the Champions League group stages. Zielinski, a regular starter in six Champions League games before his calf injury, was a crucial part of Inzaghi`s rotation strategy. Dumfries` absence also presents a problem, forcing Inzaghi to rely more on Matteo Darmian. Darmian has started in four of Inter`s last five games, highlighting the reduced rotation options, though Nicola Zalewski`s return allowed Darmian to be rested for the Cagliari match.
Demanding Schedule for Both Teams
The congested schedule this month is a significant factor. Inter must play Bayern Munich before a critical Serie A away game against Bologna on Sunday. Furthermore, they face Napoli before their highly anticipated Milan derby against AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg next week at San Siro. This demanding schedule appears to be affecting Inter`s energy levels, as they are playing every three days. In contrast, Bayern Munich, comfortably ahead of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga by six points with five games remaining, may have a slight advantage in terms of freshness and preparation.
