Internazinale Milan of Italy this evening thumped Bayern Munich of Germany 2-0 to win this year’s UEFA Champions’ league at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, thereby ending their 45 years drought in the much lucrative and prestigious tournament.
This record has once again proven Coach Jose Maurinho to be ‘The special one’. He went to Chelsea FC of England and ended their 50 years unsuccessful runs in the premiership; and now he has done it again for Inter Milan, making it treble this season having won the Scudetto earlier.
Today’s match saw Bayern Munich playing against a very balanced, tactical and disciplined opposition. Bayern did the playing while Inter kept doing the scoring. At first half ball possession was 63%: 35% in favour of Bayern and at the end of the game it stood at 65%: 35% on the average, yet they lost the match to a more focused Inter Milan. The German boys wasted most of their chances, but it was Diego Milito who scored a brace to single-handedly hand the trophy to the Italians. His first goal came in the 35th minute courtesy of a pass he received from Wesley Sneijder. His second goal in the 70th minute sank the boat for the Munich players and finally ended their title ambition for this season.
Internazionale played as a team, doing more of mass defense and periodic counter offensive. Their defense was able to absorb all the pressure piled on them by the Germans. Arjen Robben was particularly outstanding on the Bayern side but most of his crosses were begging for someone to convert them. However, it was a night Diego Milito shone like a million stars as his superb finishing delivered the prestigious trophy into the laps of Inter. Inter Milan has by this feat silenced critics who thought their victories over championship favorites Chelsea and Barcelona were a fluke.
Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder at different times shot unto the body of Julio Caesar. Robben’s shot was also parried by the goal keeper for a corner kick in the 65th minute. Julio Caesar and his defenders frustrated the Munich attack and made sure they kept a clean slate in the match. At the end of the match, one player was particularly overjoyed and that player is Samuel Eto’o who won the Champions’ league back to back, after he had won the last edition with FC Barcelona. To get to this stage Inter Milan scored 15 goals and conceded 9.
Frank Ribery was conspicuously missing on the Munich side due to suspension; perhaps his presence would have made the difference for his side. This time around their goals’ talisman Ivica Olic failed to shine. The Milan side made history as Samuel Eto’o became the only player to have won the league back to back in recent time. Javier Zanetti made his 700th appearance for Inter.