FC Bayern Munich also won the sixth round of the Champions League. There was a 2-0 win against Inter Milan.
Benjamin Pavard (32) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (72) scored the goals in front of 75,000 spectators in the arena. The German record champions thus moved into the round of 16 of the premier class with a clean sheet and 18 points – as the first club in history for the third time in a row. It was the seventh win in a row across all competitions and FC Bayern has been unbeaten in ten games. Second in Group C, Inter is also in the knockout stage.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had rotated heavily for the last group game, as announced. Compared to the Bundesliga game against Mainz 05 (6:2), he changed the starting line-up to five positions. Ryan Gravenberch, Marcel Sabitzer, Josip Stanisic, Kingsley Coman and Benjamin Pavard were new to the team. Nagelsmann initially rested Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies. The ailing Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sane and Lucas Hernandez were not in the squad.
Bayern lucky: penalty denied
The game was slow to get going. Bayern tried to put Inter under pressure from the start, but the Milanese defended compactly and closed the spaces, especially in the centre. Sadio Mané, who played the ball in his own penalty area with his hand in the tenth minute, caused the first excitement, but referee Ivan Kruzliak decided to continue playing after seeing the pictures.
After almost half an hour Inter had the first big chance of the game. After a through ball, Robin Gosens got behind the Bayern defense on the left and played the ball in the middle to Lautaro Martínez, who only hit the side netting.
Martínez slips, Pavard scores
But Bayern scored the goal in the 32nd minute. After a corner from the right hand flag, Pavard’s guard Martínez slipped, allowing the Frenchman to head in unchallenged from seven yards out. His bounce landed untenably in the top right corner. Shortly after the break, Coman almost made it 2-0, but his shot from 23 meters out was able to deflect goalkeeper André Onana around the post. Conclusion at half-time: After a few personnel changes, Bayern were far from enjoying the game of the past few weeks and were ahead, mainly because of the higher efficiency in converting chances.
Joshua Kimmich set the first accent in the second half. The international aimed for the right corner from 24 meters. The ball just missed the guest box. A little later, Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had to parry a powerful shot by Roberto Gagliardini.
Choupo-Moting follows suit
In the 60th minute, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi put three former Bundesliga stars in the running in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Edin Dzeko and Hakan Çalhanoglu, but even they couldn’t stimulate the game of the “Nerazzurri”.
Instead, substitute Jamal Musiala had the preliminary decision on his feet in the 70th minute. The joker, surrounded by four defenders, just missed out on Onana. Choupo-Moting put the lid on it two minutes later. After a pass from Alphonso Davies, the center forward ran towards the opposing defensive line and thundered the ball into the left corner with his right instep.
“A Great Goal”
“We want to win every game. We knew it was something special to get six wins in such a strong group”said Choupo-Moting on “Amazon Prime Video” and added with regard to his performance: “I know what I can do. I know that I can help the team with my qualities. It’s been going great in the last few weeks. I’m happy with my goals and assists.” He was also against Inter “stayed positive”. Then it worked with the gate: “I plucked up courage and thought: I’ll shoot from afar. A great goal.”
FC Bayern now in Berlin
On the next matchday of the Bundesliga, Bayern travel to Hertha BSC on the 13th matchday on Saturday (November 5th, 2022). Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m. The draw for the round of 16 will take place next Monday in Nyon/Switzerland.