San Siro, Milan – April 17, 2025
Inter Milan’s pursuit of a historic treble remains alive after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, advancing 4-3 on aggregate.
The Italian champions, who last lifted the European trophy under José Mourinho in 2010, will now face Barcelona in the semis, keeping hopes of a Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League treble firmly intact.
In a rain-soaked and wind-battered San Siro, goals from Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard in the second half overturned Harry Kane’s equalizer for Bayern, before Eric Dier’s late header salvaged a draw on the night for the German side. But it wasn’t enough to stop Inter from progressing in the pulsating quarter-final clash.
“We don’t give up. We have personality, heart, and intelligence,” said Inter captain Martinez. “We were on the back foot at times, but we’ve shown again that we can do great things.”
The tie was played under stormy conditions that made fluid football difficult, adding drama and tension to an already highly anticipated encounter. Inter’s faithful added to the spectacle, erupting into full voice after a 20-minute silent protest over ticket prices.
The game sprang to life in the second half when Kane pulled Bayern level in the 52nd minute with a low drive past Yann Sommer. However, Inter responded almost immediately. Martinez fired home from close range after controlling Federico Dimarco’s corner, restoring Inter’s advantage.
Pavard then made it 2-1 in the 61st minute, powering in a header against his former club to all but seal Inter’s aggregate win. Though Dier’s 76th-minute goal gave Bayern hope, Sommer’s late save from Kane ensured the hosts held firm.
Inter now turn their attention to their next Champions League test — a two-legged clash with Barcelona. Crucially, they will host the decisive second leg at the San Siro on May 6, just as they did en route to their 2010 triumph.
“We think about winning everything at the start of each season. That’s our mentality,” Martinez added.
Inter also remain three points clear at the top of Serie A and are set to face AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, fueling belief among fans that another historic treble could be within reach.
Meanwhile, Bayern boss Vincent Kompany, whose side have battled injuries throughout the tournament, praised his players’ efforts despite the disappointment.
“When you look at how the two games went, we wouldn’t have wished for a lot different — except for the goals we conceded,” Kompany said. “That’s football, that’s life.”
