Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich predictions: Nerazzurri to book semi-final spot
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- Inter Milan are bidding to reach a second Champions League semi-final in three years
- Bayern Munich have been crowned champions of Europe six times
- Recommended bet: Inter Milan to win
Inter Milan hold a narrow 2-1 lead over Bayern Munich heading into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday.
First-leg goals from Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi have put Simone Inzaghi's side in the ascendancy, but Bayern will believe they can overturn the deficit and set up a semi-final showdown with either Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund.
Team news
Inter head coach Inzaghi rotated his starting line-up for Saturday's 3-1 win over Cagliari in Serie A, with only Martinez, Yann Sommer, Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella keeping their places from last week's first leg in Munich.
Inazghi will likely revert back to a similar team to the one that started at the Allianz Arena, although midfielder Kristjan Asllani is now back following suspension, leaving Piotr Zielinski and Denzel Dumfries as the only confirmed absentees.
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany made only one change to his team for Saturday's 2-2 Der Klassiker draw with Dortmund, as first-leg scorer Muller replaced Raphael Guerreiro.
Aleksandar Pavlovic and Kingsley Coman returned from the bench in that game and could now push for starting berths, but Manuel Neuer (calf), Alphonso Davies (knee), Dayot Upamecano (knee), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Jamal Musiala (hamstring) remain on the treatment table.
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The stats
Inter boast the best defensive record in this season's Champions League, conceding just three goals in 11 matches.
The Nerazzurri have won their last five matches in the competition and have triumphed in all five of their European home games this season.
Inzaghi's side have also won nine matches in a row at the Giuseppe Meazza in all competitions and are unbeaten in 20 home games since losing to rivals AC Milan in Serie A in September.
Bayern have only won three of their last seven matches, losing to Bochum and drawing with Union Berlin and Dortmund during that time.
The Bavarians are unbeaten in their last seven away fixtures, winning five of those since losing 3-0 at Feyenoord in the league phase of the Champions League.
Bayern have emerged victorious on their last three away trips to Inter, most recently claiming a 2-0 win at the Giuseppe Meazza during the 2022-23 Champions League group stage.
Prediction
Inter have a narrow lead to protect heading into this second leg and that perhaps plays into their hands given their fantastic defensive record in this season's competition.
The Nerazzurri have conceded just three goals in this season's Champions League and the likes of Arsenal, Monaco and Feyenoord have all left the Giuseppe Meazza empty handed.
Bayern's form is patchy but they know they have to win on the night to stand any chance of advancing to the semi-finals, so at some point they may have to throw caution to the wind.
If they do that, then Inter can make them pay on the counter attack and if the hosts can maintain their high standards defensively, they are more than capable of not only reaching the last four, but going through with a victory on the night.
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