A very late Mario Gomez strike sinks Inter. Gomez  had been supported by Arjen Robben all night and it was Robben who challenged Julio Cesar with a powerful strike of his own seconds before that allow Gomez to pounce on rebound and put one by Inter’s Brazilian international Cesar in the 90th minute.

Bayern played as the home team having maintaining almost 60% of the possession.  Their keeper Kraft was surely man of the match in my opinion.

The visiting defenders conceded few chances and as the last line keeper Kraft stopped everything Inter could muster including two or three point blank attempts from the edge of the box.

Mario Gomez finally capitalized on a poorly handled ball from Julio Cesar on a Arjen Robben attempt, to give last year’s finalists a little taste of revenge.

Pre-match predictions got it right in our Inter vs Bayern Champions League football “What Will Be The Outcome” poll.

Match Notes

Inter starting XI: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Ranocchia, Chivu, Motta, Cambiasso, Sneijder, Zanetti, Stankovic, Eto’o

Bayern Munich starting XI: Kraft, Dias, Badstuber, Tymoshchuk, Lahm, Ribery, Pranjic, Muller, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Gomez

• 5 players could miss 2nd leg at the Allianz if booked tonight, Chivu and Lucio, as well as Mario Gomez, Pranjic and Kroos of Munich.

17′ oh great opp for Dejan Stankovic at the back post, Inter commanding thus far

Gustavo responding for Bayern with a long range shot just missing top left-hand corner after deflection

22′ Inter break from a poor Bayern corner…. CAMBIASSO HAS IT TWO YARDS FROM GOAL! Crucial block by Kraft!

28′ Gomez skyz the ball from the edge of the box oh dear

• Who will score for Inter is the question? Eto’o or Sneijder or a smash and grab by Cambiasso-Zanetti-Stankovic?

33′ Ribery going into the book, yellow card
54′ minute by Robben off the woodwork a big hold your breath moment for Inter fans
57′ minute try by Robben with moment before attempt by Eto’o all fairness to Cambaisso keep right in front of him too much power and high need a lighter touch and it should have gone in

90′ what a shot by Robben and Cesar can’t handle it, goal by Gomez on rebound

Final thoughts

Stankovic needed more time on the ball caused some trouble for defenders when in possession

Rannocchia showing signs of brilliance, bad timing on injury/substitution

Wesley Sneijder not his best and captain Javier Zanetti’s charges forward lacked decision, he was neither the outlet man or supporting factor in this one.

Christian Chivu unable to contain Robben, leaving his man on several occasions and totally out paced for much of match.

Samuel Eto’o almost through more then once, if only Sneijder had his best stuff to offer on the day this duo would have provided the results

Bayern take a one goal lead back to the Allianz on March 15th, Mamma Mia

Several consecutive chances from the corner against Bayern late for Inter, the Nerazzurri should really have capitalized on one of them to take a lead and eventual draw result.

Bayern lucky they didn’t have to defend more, surely a goal for Inter would have been in the cards