Bayern Munchen beat Inter Milan to Finish perfect group stage

Bayern Munchen became the first team to finish the group stage in three different seasons with 100% wins.

Goals from Benjamin Pavard and Eric Maxim Choupo at the Allianz arena last night gave Munich victory at home to Inter Milan, becoming their sixth win in six in the UEFA Champions League this season.

In a repeat of the 2010 Champions League final, it was the then-runners-up Bayern Munich who struck first, taking the lead midway through the first half. 

Pavard, who was very much a fringe player prior to his selection tonight, found himself unmarked inside the Inter penalty area, before heading home Joshua Kimmich’s whipped corner with considerable ease to repay Roten manager Julian Nagelsmann’s faith in him.

While lackadaisical defending may have been to blame for Bayern’s opener, the visitors did have reason to feel aggrieved at the break. 

Appearing to swat Nicolò Barella’s strike away with his hands, a seemingly blatant handball from Sadio Mané was waved away by Ivan Kružliak, with the Slovak referee sticking by his original decision following a VAR check.

Although Inter could finish nowhere but second, their frustrations would be amplified in the second period, when they struggled to match their hosts for stamina and fell further behind in the 72nd minute. 

This time it was Choupo-Moting who did the honours, advancing on a retreating Inter backline before whistling a crisp shot beyond his compatriot André Onana.

Despite being on the wrong end of an inconsequential result, this was still a disappointing night for Inter, who missed the chance to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions. 

A positive result at the Allianz Arena would’ve also marked the first time they’d gone five matches without defeat in the UCL since lifting the trophy in 2010.