Former Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard made a significant impact in his first goal for Inter Milan, netting a crucial strike against his old team to help secure a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. This result allowed Inter to advance to the Champions League semifinals with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Pavard expressed his emotions after the goal, particularly given the setting at San Siro. “It’s a special feeling to score at home for the first time, especially against my former club,” he said. Despite the excitement, he remained focused on the game, saying it was essential to concentrate on the match rather than his personal triumph.
Harry Kane had briefly brought Bayern back into the contest early in the second half, but Inter quickly regained control with goals from Lautaro Martínez and Pavard, making the score 2-1 in their favor. Although Eric Dier managed to equalize for Bayern later in the game, the match ended with Inter holding on for the overall victory.
Next, Inter will face Barcelona in the semifinals, a repeat of their encounter during the 2010 Champions League campaign when they famously won the title under coach José Mourinho. Inter is optimistic about their chances of repeated glory this season.
“Limitations don’t exist for us,” Pavard remarked when interviewed. “We have a talented team and dedicated staff who have put in hard work over the past two years.”
In the other semifinal, Paris Saint-Germain will play against Arsenal, who advanced following their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday. Bayern’s coach, Vincent Kompany, expressed disappointment after his team’s elimination, noting they had the chances to win but ultimately fell short.
On a rainy and windy night at San Siro, conditions posed challenges for both sides. Inter managed to stabilize after an intense start and created opportunities of their own, including a near miss from Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Despite Bayern’s early chances, they found the back of the net through Kane shortly into the second half.
However, Inter quickly responded, with Lautaro, their all-time top scorer in the competition, scoring shortly after. Moments later, Pavard added to the excitement by heading in another goal, which brought the fans to their feet. The match ended with a nail-biting finale as Bayern’s late attempt nearly disrupted Inter’s hopes, but the home side ultimately held their ground.
