Thomas Müller could play a decisive role at FC Bayern. © APA/afp / ALEXANDRA BEIER

Bayern relies on the Müller factor against Inter

On Tuesday evening, FC Bayern Munich and Inter Milan face off in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match. A veteran team that's leaving the Allianz Arena this summer is set to become the deciding factor.

08 April 2025

From: apa/sn

The burning question for Bayern is whether Thomas Müller will be able to play in the first game after the Announcement of his departure at the end of the season in the starting lineup. Munich are without perhaps their most important attacking player, Jamal Musiala, who is suffering from a thigh injury. In the dress rehearsal against Augsburg (3-1), coach Vincent Kompany substituted Müller, who is 13 years older, for the 22-year-old after Musiala's injury.

Müller, in any case, is eager for the match after Bayern decided not to renew his contract in the summer after 25 years at the club. He wants to "really open the door" to a "finale dahoam" on May 31st. If he starts, Müller would even do it as captain. The fan favorite would have liked to stay in Munich longer. "There's nothing negative left between me and the club," Müller claimed in an Instagram video on Tuesday. "We're looking forward and are fully on the same track. You don't always have to agree in life to still be on the same page."

Inter has the strongest defense

Musiala will be difficult to replace for Bayern in any case – with or without Müller. "The guys who start against Inter will also be talented players," Kompany countered. Konrad Laimer saw it similarly. They have "many players who can decide a game – I have confidence in everyone on our team that they have the ability to decide the game," the Salzburg player emphasized, without forgetting Müller's legendary status. "He is one of the greatest players there is" and can "definitely always create magic." In that sense, Müller is irreplaceable. "He will always remain unique."

Thomas Müller is back in the spotlight. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Bayern are unbeaten in their last 22 Champions League home matches. They have also won four consecutive knockout ties against Italian clubs. In addition to Musiala, however, they will be without other key players in the crucial phase of the season, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and the long-term injured defenders Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, and Alphonso Davies.

Inter will aim to counter with the strongest defense in the competition. The 2023 finalists have conceded only two goals in their ten Champions League matches so far this season. Captain Lautaro Martinez and his strike partner Marcus Thuram are fit, meaning Arnautovic is likely to retain the role of first substitute following the injury to Mehdi Taremi (adductor problems). "It fills us with pride that we're still fighting for all the titles at the beginning of April," said coach Simone Inzaghi, referring to the league and cup.

Real Madrid not in top form

Arsenal were eliminated by Bayern in the quarterfinals last year. This time, the defending champions are building up a strong presence against the Londoners. "We're ready to beat them," assured Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. "This is the stage we want to be on, where Arsenal must be consistent." Indeed, the club is in the last eight of the Champions League for only the second time since 2010. "This is a great opportunity to write our own history," said Arteta ahead of the clash with his Spanish compatriots.

Arsenal FC wants to make its mark. © ANSA / VINCE MIGNOTT

Real Madrid aren't in top form. Alaba and his team have conceded no fewer than eight goals in their last three competitive matches, and they suffered a serious setback in the Spanish title race with a 1-2 home defeat to Valencia on Saturday. "We need to be more solid defensively – and more effective in front of goal," said coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose faith in Alaba was beginning to wane after his long injury. The Austrian national team star played a quarter of an hour against Valencia, but not a single minute in the Champions League round of XNUMX against city rivals Atletico Madrid.

A win in London would be Real's 200th in the Champions League (since 1992). Record winners Madrid will face an English club in the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive time. Liverpool, Chelsea (twice), and Manchester City all failed to make it. However, Arsenal won the only previous knockout tie, in the round of 2 in 2006. The Gunners are relying not only on their home strength in Europe (16 consecutive matches unbeaten), but also on Bukayo Saka. The attacking star returned at the beginning of the month after a three-month injury layoff, but has not yet started in the lineup.

UEFA Champions League – Quarter-finals

First legs
Arsenal FC – Real Madrid (Tuesday, 21:00 PM)
FC Bayern – Inter (Tuesday, 21:00 PM)
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa (Wednesday, 21:00 PM)
FC Barcelona – Borussia Dortmund (Wednesday, 21:00 PM)

Return games
Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain (April 15, 21:00 PM)
Borussia Dortmund – FC Barcelona (April 15, 21:00 PM)
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (April 16, 21:00 PM)
Inter – FC Bayern (April 16, 21:00 PM)