Bayern Munich etched their name into the history books with a comfortable 2-0 win over Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich defeated Italian giants Inter Milan 2-0 at the Allianz Arena courtesy of goals from Benjamin Pavard and Eric Choupo-Moting to make it six wins out of six in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stages.
Having already confirmed their status as group winners heading into the tie, it was unclear whether Bayern would take their foot off the gas on the night. Despite making several changes, Die Roten had enough in their tank to secure all three points.
The victory makes Bayern the first side in the competition’s history to win six group-stage games in consecutive seasons. The German champions also become the first team in Champions League history to have won all six games at the group stage in three different campaigns.
Nagelsmann’s men have rediscovered their mojo in recent weeks and have looked dominant both in domestic and continental tournaments. With their European commitments now done until the new year, Die Roten can focus on keeping their Bundesliga defence going in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup later this month.
๐๐๐๐๐๐ould you look at that ๐#MiaSanMia #UCL pic.twitter.com/hQuTlerVL0
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) November 1, 2022
Despite Inter making changes to their lineup, the visitors did manage to have a few pops at goal. But there was little they could do as Bayern swiftly took control of the game and enjoyed 23 attempts on goal. That is the most of any side in a single game in the competition this season.
Both sides had already qualified for the Last 16 prior to the tie and at times, it showed. With no injuries sustained, Inter will not be too concerned about the result and will now shift their focus onto the Serie A campaign. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides fared on the night.
Bayern Munich
Sven Ulreich: 7/10
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper looked much more assured than at the weekend and exuded calm to the rearguard. Ulreich made an early save from Nicolo Barella and also was alert in the dying seconds to deny Edin Dzeko a stoppage-time consolation.
Noussair Mazraoui: 6/10
The summer signing was decent on the night and got forward when he could. Mazraoui also kept Robin Gosens in check in what was largely a stalemate on the Bayern right wing. He was taken off in the 65th minute for Jamal Musiala.
Benjamin Pavard: 7/10
The Frenchman was excellent alongside Dayot Upamecano and kept things simple. Pavard also covered for Mazraoui when needed and showed good awareness. He opened the scoring with a 32nd-minute header from Joshua Kimmich’s corner and was a dependable player all night.
Benjamin Pavard's celebration ๐ pic.twitter.com/IPkk5bz9h3
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 1, 2022
Dayot Upamecano: 6/10
Upamecano was largely comfortable in a dominant first half where Bayern were on top. Lautaro Martinez did give him a couple of scares, but the Frenchman held his own and rose to the occasion. He was taken off at half-time for Alphonso Davies, perhaps to give him a breather.
Josip Stanisic: 6/10
Stanisic lacks the dynamism that Alphonso Davies brings to the position but was overall decent. He initially struggled to contain Raoul Bellanova but upped his game as the match went on. Stanisic also earned himself a yellow card for an 88th-minute tackle on Edin Dzeko.
Joshua Kimmich: 7.5/10
With several of Inter Milan’s first-choice midfielders injured or rested, Kimmich was able to set the tone in the middle of the park early on. He provided a pinpoint cross for Pavard’s opener and linked up well with Marcel Sabitzer in the double pivot. The Bayern skipper earned himself a yellow card for a tackle on Bellanova before going close with a strike that went just wide.
Joshua Kimmichโs first half by numbers vs. Inter:
96% pass accuracy
3 long balls completed
3 crosses completed
2 key passes
2 shots on target
1 assistOne of the best. ๐ pic.twitter.com/a6bxfhMMsX
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 1, 2022
Marcel Sabitzer: 7/10
The Austrian slotted in ably in midfield and kept the ball ticking. He connected the defence to the attack well and was always available for a pass. Sabitzer also picked up a yellow card for a tackle on Matteo Darmian, ruling him out of the next game.
Kingsley Coman: 6/10
The Frenchman started off well and caused Gosens several problems. The Inter wing-back was even forced to concede a tactical foul that saw him pick a yellow card to keep Coman in check. The Bayern winger forced Andre Onana into a fine save but did little otherwise and was taken off for Paul Wanner in the 76th minute.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6/10
The Dutchman was handed a rare start and an opportunity to express himself. While he did not particularly stand out, Gravenberch did put in a solid shift.
Sadio Mane: 7/10
The former Liverpool man was not at his dynamic best and can consider himself lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half. He was energetic and also made Andre Onana work on one occasion. Mane was taken off for Serge Gnabry in the second half.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: 7.5/10
The Cameroonian striker continued his scoring spree and is nigh on indispensable on current form. Choupo-Moting was not afraid to take a pop at goal and made way for Mathys Tel in the 73rd minute.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scores for the sixth game in a row ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/m01qAVGwQD
— GOAL (@goal) November 1, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Alphonso Davies: 7/10
Davies was solid after coming on and also grabbed himself an assist for Choupo-Moting’s second-half strike.
Jamal Musiala: 6/10
Musiala replaced Mazraoui in the 65th minute but lacked his usual decisiveness in the final third. He had one standout moment where he skipped past three players and forced Onana into a good save.
Serge Gnabry: 6/10
The German international replaced Mane but failed to make the most of his time on the field.
Mathys Tel: N/A
The youngster came on with the game all but done and had little to do.
Paul Wanner: N/A
The 16-year-old was afforded a late runout but had little time to make an impact.
Inter Milan
Andre Onana: 7/10
The Cameroonian had to be alert on the night behind a makeshift defence and midfield. Onana rose to the occasion and saved well from Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala. There was little he could do for both of Bayern’s goals.
15 – Inter have faced 15 shots in the opening 45 minutes against Bayern Munich, the most for the Nerazzurri in a #UCL first half in the current format (since 2003/04), level with the game against Barcelona on October 12th. Pressure.#BayernInter
— OptaPaolo ๐ (@OptaPaolo) November 1, 2022
Matteo Darmian: 6/10
The Italian international surprisingly started as part of the back three and largely used his experience to shut down passing lanes. While Darmian was not as assertive as he would have liked, he did read Sadio Mane well.
Stefan de Vrij: 6/10
The Dutchman struggled to hold his team’s shape against the fluid Bayern attack but responded to most dangers with some semblance of impact. He was taken off for Milan Skriniar in the 76th minute.
Francesco Acerbi: 6/10
The veteran had the unenviable task of going up against Kingsley Coman. The Frenchman, however, failed to make the most of it and struggled to expose Acerbi’s lack of pace. The Inter defender held his own well and given the fluidity in Bayern’s frontline, is a noteworthy achievement.
Raoul Bellanova: 6/10
Bellanova had Stanisic’s number early in the game and was bursting with energy to push forward. The youngster failed to keep up the same levels of dynamism but is emerging as a reliable alternative to Denzel Dumfries.
Nicolo Barella: 7/10
The UEFA Euro 2020 hero was the most recognisable of Inter’s central midfielders and started off well. He forced Sven Ulreich into an early save and was ready to push on whenever possible. Barella can consider himself unlucky that Inter failed to win a penalty following Mane’s handball.
Kristjan Asllani: 6.5/10
Going up against Kimmich and Sabitzer is no joke, but Asllani did give his best. While he did not stand out or win the battle, the Inter midfielder refused to give up.
Roberto Gagliardini: 5/10
It was a decent outing for the Italian but nothing to write home about. Gagliardini lasted an hour before being taken off for Hakan Calhangolu.
Robin Gosens: 6/10
The German international made a driving run that provided Lautaro Martinez with a fine opportunity in the 26th minute. He struggled at times to pin down Coman and picked up a yellow card for his troubles.
Lautaro Martinez: 6/10
The Argentine started well and made some good moves. However, he has been playing regularly of late, and the fatigue showed. Martinez failed to find the empty net in the 26th minute and slowed down as the game went on. He was understandably taken off for Edin Dzeko in the second half.
๐ฆ๐ท Lautaro Martรญnez vs. Bayern Munich:
โฐ 60' jugados.
โ [69%] efectividad.
โ 1 pase clave.
โ 1 centro completado.
โ 1/2 balones en largo.
โ 1 duelo ganado.
โ 1 falta recibida. pic.twitter.com/PNKQYWpDwa— TR SPORTS ยฎ (@TrSports12) November 1, 2022
Joaquin Correa: 5/10
The former Lazio attacker continues to frustrate and did not quite get his bearings right on the night. Correa was taken off for Valentin Carboni in the second half.
SUBSTITUTES
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 6/10
The Armenian playmaker replaced Barella in the second half but did not quite make a telling impact.ย
Edin Dzeko: 6/10
Dzeko was Inter’s best attacker on the night and forced Ulreich into a smart save in stoppage time and kept going until the final whistle.
Hakan Calhanoglu: 6/10
Calhanoglu added more solidity to the Inter midfield but achieved little otherwise.ย
Valentin Carboni: 4/10
Carboni’s lone contribution on the night was to be awarded a late yellow card for a tackle on Marcel Sabitzer.
Milan Skriniar: N/A
Skriniar replaced de Vrij in the 76th minute with the game all but settled.
