Pavard: ‘Inter and Bayern Munich both great teams, tie still 50-50’

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 26: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale competes with Castello Lukeba of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Internazionale Milano and RB Leipzig at Stadio San Siro on November 26, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Benjamin Pavard warns ‘it will be tough’ against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, but Inter ‘are a great team too’ and the tie remains ’50-50’ despite the first leg result.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

Whoever wins this tie will go on to face Barcelona in the semi-finals.

The Nerazzurri have a 2-1 first leg advantage thanks to the Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi goals, succeeding in ending the 22-match unbeaten home run in the Champions League for Bayern Munich.

Pavard has Inter and Bayern Munich warnings

“It will be tough, as it always is against Bayern Munich, as they have great players,” Pavard told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“However, we too are a great team and must be very concentrated, because it is going to be complicated.”

Inter have several players one card away from suspension for the semi-final, namely Lautaro Martinez, Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pavard.

“We allowed them too many chances in the first half in Munich, so today we must defend with greater focus and make sure we do not concede.

“At the same time, we will also try to score more goals this evening.”

This is going to be the 50^th Champions League game in Pavard’s playing career and he is looking forward to the opportunity to face one of the giants of the sport at a packed San Siro, not to mention one of his old clubs.

“Without doubt, the first leg was an important result, because Bayern lose very few games at home. However, we are only half-way through, we’ve got to do well again this evening to go through,” Pavard told Sky Sport Italia.

“Bayern Munich are accustomed to playing at this level, they will certainly go on the attack, because they know that they need to score. They’ve also got to be careful in defence trying not to concede.

“I would still say the tie is 50-50, as there are another 90 minutes or more to go.”