Impressive runs in group stage
Sun | 04/09/22 | 13:00
5 facts on the opening Champions League game at Inter Milan
FC Bayern finally start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday with a big game at the historic San Siro against Inter Milan. Julian Nagelsmann’s team head to Italy on several impressive runs that bode well for a good start to the European season. Find out about those in our stats and facts on the game.
1. Brilliant Bayern in group stage
Bayern made it six wins from six in last season’s group stage with a 3-0 win over Barcelona in December 2021.
Bayern recorded the second perfect Champions League group stage in their history last season, picking up a full 18 points with a goal difference of +19 (F22, A3) to equal the record for the best group stage in the competition’s history that FCB themselves set. It means the Reds are now unbeaten in their last 28 group games (W25, D3) since a 3-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in September 2017. That was also the last group game where Bayern failed to score. The 28 outings since then have seen them score 93 times. The German champions will equal Real Madrid’s competition record of 30 group games unbeaten (from 2012 to 2017) if they avoid defeat in their opening two matches of this season.
2. FCB always win the opening game
Bayern don’t know the meaning of a false start in the Champions League. They have won their opening game in all of their campaigns since a 3-2 defeat at home to Deportivo La Coruna in September 2002. That run encompasses 18 games and is a record in the competition. It doesn’t matter if it’s against supposed underdogs or notable names like Roma (2-0 at home in 2010), Manchester City (1-0 at home in 2014), Benfica (2-0 away in 2018), Atletico Madrid (4-0 at home in 2020) or Barcelona (3-0 away last season), Bayern have been too good for every opponent on Matchday 1 during that run.
3. Only Bayern wins at Inter
Both teams have three wins each from the seven previous encounters between FCB and Inter. But while the record is even in Europe, it’s a slightly strange one since all three Bayern victories have come at the San Siro. Conversely, the Nerazzurri are unbeaten in Munich (W2, D1). The only meeting on neutral territory was the 2010 Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and saw the Italians win 2-0. Inter also won the last encounter in March 2011 (3-2). The only current player from either club to have featured 11 years ago is Thomas Müller.
Thomas Müller had to settle for runner-up in the 2010 final against Inter but has since won the Champions League twice.
4. Bayern’s long unbeaten run against Italians
Die Roten have gone 10 Champions League games without defeat to Italian clubs since that 3-2 loss to Inter (W8, D2). Bayern are even unbeaten in their last six trips to Italy (W4, D2), including the unforgettable 7-1 victory at Roma in October 2014. FCB’s last encounter with Serie A opposition was against Lazio in the 2020/21 round of 16, with Bayern winning 4-1 in Rome and 2-1 in Munich. Lazio’s coach at the time was current Inter boss Simone Inzaghi.
Jamal Musiala became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer ever on the club’s last visit to Italy, when they won 4-1 at Lazio in February 2021.
5. Bayern a Champions League establishment
This year is the 26th time Bayern will compete in the Champions League group stage. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona (both 27) have featured more times since the competition was created in 1992/93. The 2022/23 campaign is Bayern’s 15th consecutive participation in the Champions League. Opponents Inter have appeared 16 times in total.
Bayern want to get back to winning ways in Milan after the 1-1 draw at Union Berlin:
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