The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals delivered contrasting narratives last night, with Inter Milan securing a hard-fought victory over Bayern Munich, while Arsenal stunned Real Madrid with a commanding win at the Emirates Stadium.
Inter Milan edged past Bayern Munich in a thrilling contest at the Allianz Arena, thanks to a late strike by Davide Frattesi. The Italian side now holds a crucial advantage heading into the second leg. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring for Inter in the 38th minute with a clinical finish, marking his seventh goal of the tournament. Bayern's Harry Kane came close to equalizing, hitting the post with a curling effort in the 26th minute.
Substitute Thomas Müller levelled the score for Bayern in the 85th minute, tapping in a precise delivery from Konrad Laimer. Just three minutes later, Frattesi struck the decisive blow, converting a low cross from Carlos Augusto to seal the win for Inter.
Bayern dominated possession but struggled to break down Inter's disciplined defence, led by Alessandro Bastoni. Inter's counter-attacking strategy proved effective, with Marcus Thuram and Martínez combining well in the final third. Bayern faces a daunting task in the return leg at the San Siro, needing to score at least twice to stay in the competition.
Arsenal delivered a statement performance at the Emirates Stadium, dismantling Real Madrid with a 3-0 victory. The Gunners' dominance in the second half left the reigning champions reeling. Arsenal controlled the tempo early on, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli creating chances. Declan Rice's two stunning free kicks in the 58 and 70th minute stunned the Madrid team. Mikel Merino added the third goal in the 75th minute, finishing off a well-worked team move to cap off a dominant display.
Arsenal's high pressing disrupted Real Madrid's build-up play, while their midfield trio of Ødegaard, Rice, and Partey controlled the game. Madrid's star-studded attack, including Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, was neutralized by Arsenal's disciplined defence. Arsenal's emphatic win puts them in a strong position to reach the semifinals, while Real Madrid will need a miraculous comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu.