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Holders Inter Milan host last season’s runners-up Bayern Munich at the San Siro in a repeat of the 2010 Champions League final.
Unfortunately, Milito is ruled out of a return to haunt Bayern
Who was it that once said revenge is a dish best served cold? Whoever it was, may not, at the time, construed the potency and acceptability of that most famous quote.
And so revenge is on the agenda as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich lock horns again in Europe this time in last 16 knock-out round.
The last time the pair clashed was in Madrid where the Italians toppled the Bavarians 2-0 to seal the 2010 European crown.
Since then however both sides have been somewhat changed with the Nerazzurri harbouring a new coach in Leonardo and Bayern rejuvenating their first team.
Having joined the club at the turn of the year, coach Leonardo has sprinkled some of his managerial finesse on a previously stagnant Inter side. Refreshed and reformed, the Italian champions have scored 27 goals in 11 matches, and won nine matches under the former AC Milan boss.
They have also rapidly moved up the Serie A table and once again look like credible title contenders. Such rejuvenation has not been lost on the players who will be seeking to put their group stage humiliations at the hands of Tottenham and Werder Bremen behind them as they aim to become the first ever side to retain the UEFA Champions League in its current format.
Bayern sailed through their group before being paired with their old adversaries. Die Roten have in recent years been Champions League underachievers, however, this season will be looking to shake off that title commencing of course with the elimination of Inter.
Despite the sabre-rattling, stoic Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal insists that the match “is not about vengeance”, but given the gaping wounds still fresh from last May, few people are willing to take the Dutch man’s words on that. After all revenge is a dish best served cold right?
Team News:
Inter Milan will be without Bayern destroyer Diego Milito whose two goals sealed the 2-0 victory in last season’s final, however, defender Lucio is ready to jump back into the action after missing Friday’s 1-0 victory over Cagliari.
Bayern Munich will be with X-Factor duo Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and have no injury worries going into the clash.
Likely Line Ups:
Inter Milan: Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu – Zanetti, Cambiasso, Thiago Motta – Sneijder, Stankovic – Eto’o.
Bayern Munich: Kraft – Lahm, Tymoshchuk, Badstuber, Pranjic – Schweinsteiger, Luiz Gustavo – Robben, Muller, Ribery – Gomez.
Prediction: Inter Milan 2-1 Bayern Munich. A real close one to call. Given Bayern’s poor record in Italy and particularly at the San Siro, they may well settle on just nabbing a priceless away goal. But with home support, Inter could nick the first leg and it is all roads leading to Munich.
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