Inter Milan secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Davide Frattesi.
The dramatic late goal came just minutes after substitute Thomas Müller had equalized for Bayern, following Lautaro Martínez’s clinical first-half opener.
Bayern, playing at home in Munich, started strongly despite the absence of Jamal Musiala, with Raphaël Guerreiro stepping into the No. 10 role.
The six-time champions dominated the early stages, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane testing Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Kane came closest to scoring in the opening minutes, hitting the post with a curling shot after being set up by Olise.
Inter initially struggled to create chances but capitalized on a swift counterattack in the 34th minute. Marcus Thuram’s clever touch found Lautaro Martínez, who finished with finesse using the outside of his right foot.
The goal marked Martínez’s sixth in his last four Champions League appearances and gave Inter a vital lead at halftime.
Bayern pushed hard for an equalizer after the break but found it difficult to break down Inter’s disciplined defense. Yann Sommer was called into action several times but remained solid between the posts.
On the other end, Martínez nearly doubled his tally early in the second half, only for Bayern’s young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, deputizing for Manuel Neuer, to make a crucial save.
The hosts’ persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute when Konrad Laimer delivered a precise ball to Thomas Müller, who tapped in from close range just 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute. The goal was Müller’s 244th for Bayern and appeared to salvage a draw for the German side.
However, Inter had other plans. In the dying moments of the match, Carlos Augusto surged down the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross that Davide Frattesi converted emphatically from close range.
The goal not only handed Inter a vital away win but also ended Bayern’s 22-match unbeaten home run in the Champions League.
The second leg is set for next week at San Siro, where Inter will look to capitalize on their advantage and secure a spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Bayern faces an uphill battle to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
ALSO READ: UCL: Declan Rice’s free-kick brilliance powers Arsenal to stunning 3-0 victory over Real Madrid