Inter’s Champions League veterans set sights on ending Kane’s dream run

Can Inter’s old guard derail Kane’s Champions League hopes?

For Inter Milan, the memories of Istanbul still sting. That 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the 2023 Champions League final wasn’t just a defeat—it was a missed opportunity. A golden one. Yet, less than two years later, here they are again. One foot in the semi-finals, eyes fixed firmly on another shot at European glory. And standing in their way? Harry Kane and Bayern Munich.

While the footballing world has become used to Inter being a side packed with experience, it’s becoming clear that this “old guard” is anything but done. In fact, they might just be aging like fine wine.

From disappointment to dominance: Inter’s quiet rebuild

That summer after the final brought change. Big names departed, questions loomed, and doubts grew about how this squad would compete at the highest level again. But Simone Inzaghi had other ideas.

Now, in April 2025, Inter are on the brink of securing back-to-back Serie A titles for the first time since José Mourinho’s legendary 2010 treble-winning side. And while domestic success is always sweet, it’s the Champions League where this team seems to find another gear.

Against Bayern, Inter delivered a masterclass in efficiency and defensive intelligence. With Kane and company threatening, it was Lautaro Martínez who struck first, capping off a sweeping 12-pass move that began with Yann Sommer between the posts. No waste, no fuss—just incisive football played at exactly the right moments.

Why Inter are a team nobody wants to face

“They aren’t afraid of anyone,” said European football journalist Kristof Terreur. And it’s true.

Inter play with a calm confidence. They don’t need to dominate possession or bombard the opposition. Instead, they lure teams in, baiting them into overcommitting, then slice through with razor-sharp transitional play.

That first goal in Munich was no fluke. Sommer to Martínez in twelve touches. It was textbook Inter—clean, deliberate, and devastating.

Even when Bayern equalised through Thomas Müller late on, Inter didn’t wobble. Three minutes later, Davide Frattesi responded, finishing another lightning-fast move that covered nearly the full length of the pitch in just seven touches. Inter’s coaching staff burst onto the field. The statement had been made.

“It shows how mature this team is,” said Italian football pundit James Horncastle. “Inzaghi’s really helped them shake off the European complex they had under Spalletti and Conte.”

The defensive veterans redefining age in football

Inter Milan’s players and coaches embrace and celebrate wildly on the pitch

Much has been made of Inter’s backline—and for good reason.

They’re not just solid; they’re historic. Through 11 Champions League matches this season, they’ve conceded just three goals. That’s an average of 0.27 per game—second only to AC Milan’s iconic 1993-94 team.

It’s especially impressive when you look at the ages. Sommer is 36. Stefan de Vrij? 33. Matteo Darmian is 35. And Francesco Acerbi—tasked with nullifying Harry Kane—is 37. Oh, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, still pulling the strings in midfield, is 36.

This isn’t just a collection of veterans hanging on. It’s a group of experienced professionals playing some of the smartest football on the continent.

“Inzaghi wants intelligence in central defence,” said Italian football writer David Ferrini. “They aren’t just man-marking—they’re reading the game, forcing top-level attackers like Kane and Sane into rushed decisions.”

Carlos Augusto, Inter’s dynamic left-back, was key in neutralising Bayern’s Konrad Laimer in the first leg. It’s the kind of tactical precision that’s made Inter such a threat in this year’s tournament.

Inter press, and press hard

How Lautaro Martinez keeps Inter’s squad in harmony

Don’t mistake Inter’s maturity for passivity, though. This is not a team sitting deep and waiting for penalties.

Against Bayern, Inter recorded 573 high-intensity pressures. That’s the most by any team in a Champions League match this season—even in games that went into extra time.

This team might have a few more grey hairs than their rivals, but their legs aren’t failing them. They press with purpose and bite, knowing when to go and when to drop.

It’s not about running more—it’s about running smarter.

Not all smooth sailing: the areas of concern

Despite their strong European form, Inter haven’t been perfect.

Domestically, their lead in Serie A has narrowed. Napoli, after a rocky stretch, have clawed their way back into the title conversation. Just three points separate the two sides as the season enters its final stages.

In Europe, cracks have begun to show too. Bayern managed seven shots on target in the first leg—tied for the most Inter have conceded in a single game this Champions League campaign. And at home, they’ve struggled for clean sheets. Just one in their last six at San Siro.

As Ferrini pointed out, “Inter have struggled at home this season against the bigger sides. Bayern are dangerous—especially when desperate.”

And desperate they will be.

The German giants have never lost at San Siro and were the last team to beat Inter there in Europe. Harry Kane is hunting his first Champions League trophy. And with Thomas Tuchel’s future uncertain, Bayern will be desperate to salvage their campaign.

What would it mean for Inter to go all the way?

“It would be everything,” said Naomi Accardi, an Inter supporter and writer. “I think we might just have to settle for the Scudetto this year… but if we won the Champions League? It would be amazing.”

Accardi’s favourite team remains the Mourinho-led 2010 side. But this current group is starting to build something special of their own.

Five straight Champions League wins is no accident. The last time Inter managed that? Fifteen seasons ago—when they lifted the trophy in Madrid.

And though they’ve got one of the oldest squads left in the tournament, it’s that very experience that could carry them the furthest. Calm under pressure, ruthless in transition, rock-solid at the back—this team knows how to navigate Europe.

Kane vs the old guard: Who blinks first?

This second leg at San Siro has the feel of a classic. Harry Kane, still chasing that elusive major title, will throw everything at Inter. But in Acerbi, Sommer, Darmian and company, he faces a defensive unit that’s been there, seen it all, and probably tackled it too.

If Inter get through this, they’ll fancy their chances against anyone. And should they lift the trophy in May, this run—led by some of the oldest legs in the tournament—will go down as one of the great European stories.

For now, they’ll just focus on doing what they do best—waiting for the mistake, seizing the moment, and showing the rest of Europe that experience still matters.