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Bayern Munich and Harry Kane head to Inter Milan on Wednesday needing a victory to reach the semi-finals and keep their dream of playing in a home Champions League final alive.
Inter’s 2-1 win in Munich puts the Italians in the box seat to reach the Champions League semis for the second time in three years.
Despite a bulging injury list, Bayern had enough chances to win the first leg but failed to make their dominance show on the scoresheet.
It has been a familiar story recently for the German giants, and in particular, star striker Kane.
In Saturday’s 2-2 draw against rivals Borussia Dortmund, Vincent Kompany’s men failed to make a glut of chances count.
If the German giants are to reach the Champions League showpiece at their Allianz Arena home at the end of May, Harry Kane and the forward line will need to find their lost killer instinct.
In their past two games, Bayern Munich have scored three times from 46 shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, centre-backs Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito and wing-back Alphonso Davies will all miss the trip to Milan, hollowing out Bayern’s defence. Midfield creator Jamal Musiala will also be absent.
Under-pressure central defender Kim Min-jae, who was hooked shortly after a mistake leading to Dortmund’s first on Saturday, is still nursing an Achilles injury but looks set to play on Wednesday.
Against Dortmund, Bayern finished with one fit centre-back on the field: English veteran Eric Dier.
Given the defensive woes, the need to convert chances becomes even more important.
Bayern Munich and Harry Kane had no trouble in the last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen when the England captain scored three goals across the two-game tie.
The 31-year-old has 10 goals in 12 games this Champions League season.
Kane told reporters on Saturday his side were “dominant” but “were a bit wasteful with our chances” against Dortmund, as they had been against Inter in Munich.
“We just have to be more clinical. On another day we would have got three or four against them (Inter). It gives us confidence because we know we can create chances against them,” Harry Kane said.
Bayern Munich are chasing the romance of winning the title on home soil and hoping to exorcise the ghosts of their 2012 final loss to Chelsea in Munich. To reach the semi-finals, Bayern will need a two-goal win, or victory by one followed by a triumph on penalties.
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