Bayern Munich and Inter Milan must overturn shock first-leg deficits or go home as the penultimate rounds of 16 Champions League games kick off Tuesday. Bayern hosts and trails Swiss minnows Basel 1-0, thanks to Valentin Stocker’s 86th minute stunner. While in Milan, Inter must overcome their lethargy and a 1-0 deficit to Olympique Marseille.
If Tuesday’s game in Germany is anything like the one we saw three weeks ago in Basel, we’re in for a treat.
Bayern comes roaring into the game fresh off a 7-1 mauling of Hoffenheim that may signal the Bavarians are finally back on point. League leaders at Christmas, Bayern have since slipped off the top spot to chase Borussia Dortmund, and with that dip in form came some predictable gnashing of teeth. But after a weekend that saw them score all eight goals — even Hoffenheim couldn’t find their own consolation, leaving Luis Gustavo to put it into his own net — Bayern may be finally coming back to life.
Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben ran riot over a Hoffenheim side that’s hardly chopped liver, and even the much-maligned Mario Gomez got off the mark, scoring a hat trick. But the biggest boost — and the key to their Champions League dreams — came with the return of Bastian Schweinsteiger to the lineup after a six-week injury layoff.
But despite the German giants’ pedigree, Basel have been experts at taking opponents off script. Heiko Vogel, himself a former member of the Bayern infrastructure, played a dazzling tactical game three weeks ago, showcasing a giddy Basel side that is unafraid to attack and press. Then, Vogel’s underdogs showed little caution to go for the throat.
Marco Streller and Alexander Frei raced right down the gut at a Bayern side that seemed baffled by such disrespect. The result was the best game of the entire tournament, a breathless foot race that saw heroics at both ends. Basel’s Xherdan Shaqiri gave his team-to-be no comfort, whipping the ball in from the flanks against an over-matched and under-supported Phillipp Lahm. The result? Bayern were saved twice by the posts and once when Manuel Neuer was able to clear the ball off his line.
Yann Sommer was just as busy at the other end, saving David Alaba brilliantly and punching away Ribery’s shots twice. Basel’s defense was also more organized: Markus Steinhofer did just enough to keep Gomez and Robben off their stride, and when Bayern visibly ran out of ideas, Basel was content to just nod the crosses out and away.
While the game at the Allianz Arena is sure to be a bit tighter, keep in mind that this is a Bayern side that has only won five out of their last ten games. That said, the Germans have a history of pulling things out: they’ve won four out of their last five two-legged ties when trailing and have won 11 of their last 12 European games at home.
Inter Milan’s meeting with Marseille is less compelling. Both teams look like boxers well past their prime, and their last meeting was notably punch-drunk.
How desperate are these teams? Consider that Inter manager Claudio Ranieri was reduced to tears this weekend, his Inter squad finally won a game for the first time since last January, albeit against a very average Chievo.
That matters not, as the under-fire Ranieri now has to hope his squad can overturn their first-leg deficit against a sinking Marseille side.
What Inter must do is attack. Last time, they controlled the first leg match for 90 minutes, but seemed unwilling — or incapable — of marshalling resources forward. Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder called the tune and while Diego Milito and Mauro Zarate were left alone up top, their presence did keep the French from roaming forward. All in all, it was commanding from the Italians but a turgid show, one that always looks as if it would end in a scoreless draw.
Of course, it didn’t. Mathieu Valbuena fed Andre Ayew and the Ghanaian’s header sizzled past a stunned Julio Cesar in the closing minute. That it was utterly against the run of play mattered not. That it came after an hour and a half of painfully awkward and slow play just plunged the knife in that much deeper.
Inter now faces a side that has yet to lose an away game in this tournament this season. The good news? This same Marseille hasn’t won or scored a goal in their past four games. Inter will be without suspended Cristian Chivu, while Marseille welcomes back their injured striker Loic Remy.
Don’t be surprised if this goes extra time or kicks. On paper, it has all the makings of being another slog.
Coverage begins on Fox Soccer at 2 PM ET and every game is brought to you live on the FOX Family of networks. Games can also be followed live in real-time via FoxSoccer.com’s MatchTrax or on Twitter through the @FoxSoccerTrax feed.
