Bayern defeat Inter to complete clean sweep of Group C
Having been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ prior to the competition’s start, Bayern certainly had no problems navigating a path to the knockout stages. Coming into tonight’s Matchday 6 clash sat five points clear of nearest competitor Internazionale, Nagelsmann afforded rests to several key players. Choupo-Moting retained his place given his red-hot form, while starting berths were afforded to Mazraoui, Gravenberch, Stanišić, and Sabitzer.
| Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. |
Choupo-Moting spurned a chance to play Mané in just before the half hour mark. However, moments later Bayern took the lead through Benjamin Pavard. Kimmich’s out swinging corner was inch perfect. The Frenchman, utilised in a centre-half role tonight, shrugged of Martínez to plant a downward header into the ground which looped over Onana. Coman had an opportunity of his own in added time. His powerful drive was well dealt with by Onana who saw the ball late as it curled around de Vrij.
Alphonso Davies replaced Upamecano after the interval. Nagelsmann presumably keeping one eye on the Hertha Berlin game this Saturday. Inter quickly had a goal ruled out for a clear offside on 48 minutes. Gagliardini and Correa combined nicely on 52 minutes, but Ulreich was comfortably behind the shot. Inter made a treble substitution before the hour mark which included once familiar Bundesliga names – Mkhitaryan, Dzeko, and Çalhanoğlu, formerly of Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Hamburg and Leverkusen respectively entered the action.
Gnabry and Musiala were also afforded a runout for the hosts. The latter almost weaved his way towards a second goal had Onana not got down smartly to save. That second Bayern goal didn’t take long to arrive in the end. Bayern’s in-form man Choupo-Moting signed off with a bang just before being replaced by Tel, as he rocketed his effort into the top left corner of Onana’s net. Bayern never really looked back from then. A final terrific save was made by Ulreich to deny Dzeko and maintain the clean sheet.
Another commanding win for the Bavarian side who march on to the knockout rounds with their 100% Group C record intact. The first club in Champions League history to win all six group stage games for a third time.
