Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed they need a “minor miracle” to overcome their first-leg deficit against Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals. Injury-hit Bayern lost 2-1 at home in the first leg and former CEO Rummenigge, who won the European Cup twice with Die Roten as a player before later joining Inter, expressed little hope of a turnaround.
Advertisement
WHAT RUMMENIGGE SAID
In an inteview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rummenigge said: "In my opinion, Bayern will need a minor miracle after the result of the first leg in Munich because Inter showed themselves as a great team against us, really. It will be a difficult match for Bayern, but not impossible. But for me, Inter will be the favourites to go through."
Getty Images Sport
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite Rummenigge’s words, Bayern will take solace from the fact that, even with Jamal Musiala headlining a long list of absentees, they dominated for long periods in the first leg. They were ultimately punished for profligacy as Davide Frattesi netted a late winner on the break after Thomas Muller had cancelled out Lautaro Martinez’s sublime opener. The problem is that Bayern have shown few signs of defensive solidity, as Saturday's 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker illustrated.
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?
It will be a daunting trip to San Siro for Bayern on Wednesday, with Inter having only lost once as the home team in their famous stadium all season, that defeat coming at the hands co-tenants AC Milan in Serie A back in September. Bayern did beat Inter home and away in the group stage in 2022-23, and they won at San Siro in the first leg of a last-16 tie in 2011, only to go on to lose on away goals after Inter prevailed 3-2 in Munich.