Even the B-team of Bayern Munich proved to be too strong for Inter, with the Germans securing another 2-0 victory over the Nerazzurri to wrap up their Champions League group.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who nevertheless argue that Inter will have few regrets after they secured qualification for the round of sixteen from the “group of death.”
Both Bayern and Inter put out heavily-rotated starting elevens for yesterday evening’s match, not surprising given that there was no result that could have affected the final outcome of the group.
The pattern of play was not that much different than in the first meeting between the two sides at the San Siro, however.
The Nerazzurri had some bright periods and a couple good chances, but on the balance of play Bayern were worth their 2-0 margin of victory.
The sense was that, even with both teams resting key players in what essentially amounted to a test match with little competitive significance, there was simply a higher level on show from the German champions.
Nevertheless, Inter will not have been surprised by this when they drew a Champions League group containing Bayern, widely regarded as one of the two or three strongest teams in Europe at the moment.
The Nerazzurri’s group also contained Barcelona, another team considered to be one of Europe’s elite.
Inter took four points from the Blaugranas deservedly, and this was enough for them to emerge from this “group of death” with their place booked in the round of sixteen of Europe’s top competition.
Yesterday evening’s loss at the hands of Bayern will temper some enthusiasm and demonstrate that there is still another level or two that Inter must improve to reach.
However, on the whole the mood at the Nerazzurri can be one of pride and optimism following a group stage campaign that could not realistically have gone much better for them.
