Is FC Bayern a look at the past for a new miracle?

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was at a loss. « I also don’t know a remedy for this bulwark, » said the Munich club club about the defense specialists of his ex-club Inter Milan and supplemented: « For me, the case is actually done. »

The “case” was the round of 16 second leg between Rummenigges earlier teams in the UEFA Cup on December 7, 1988, which was to go down in the history of FC Bayern as a “miracle of Milan”. It serves as a blueprint for what the German record champion in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League is intended in San Siro on Wednesday (9 p.m.).

This time the Munich people have to “only” make a 1: 2, more than 36 years ago it was even a 0: 2. An almost impossible undertaking! Back then, series A was the best league in the world with the biggest stars. And Inter, who should secure the best team with top players such as the former Bayern stars Lothar Matthäus and Andreas Brehme or Walter Zenga and Giuseppe Bergomi.

Warm up in the gymnasium hall

Before that, a single German team had won at Inter: Gladbach in 1979 with coach Jupp Heynckes. He was sitting on Bayern-Bank and said: « All trump cards are at Inter. » But the Milanese midfield chief Matthew warned: « We must not be too safe. If we are not concentrated, Bayern are capable of anything! »

Especially since the « Das Sieger gene of FC Bayern » carried, as Hansi Dorfner remembered. And manager Uli Hoeneß attracted the team in a « fire speech » (Olaf Thon) with the double premium. A portion of extra motivation was concerned that the guests refused to warm up on the square – they had to move to a stuffy gymnastics hall.

Nevertheless: Captain Klaus Augenthaler put the chances of progressing to 1:99. But Inter, as Heynckes whispered later, had « already ticked off » and only thought of the upcoming derby against city rival AC around striker Marco van Basten. Matthew’s prophecy should come true.

Also because Heynckes surprisingly offered three tips. Roland Wohlfarth (33. ‘) and Jürgen « Kobra » Wegmann (41.’) met the latter at the presentation of Johnny Ekström. Augenthaler (37th ‘) was also successful.

After Aldo Serena (45. ‘), Inter, weakened by the injury -related for Brehme, started a real storm run. « That could have ended 10: 3, » Matthäus recalled, but Bayern goalkeeper Raimond Aumann, the « hero of San Siro », showed « the game of his life ». « First lost Inter Brehme, then his head, » wrote « Tuttosport ». The « kicker » headed: « Bavaria survived the hell of Milan ».

In 2006 (2: 0), 2011 (1: 0) and 2022 (2: 0), Bayern won in the Giuseppe-Mazza Stadium against Inter, as the German national team recently against Italy (2-1). « Nothing has been lost yet, » said Matthäus: « The miracle of Milan has already existed. » He was there.