Kane and Bayern need killer instinct with home final at stake

MUNICH — Bayern Munich and Harry Kane head to Inter Milan on Wednesday needing a victory to reach the semifinals 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 loaded injury list, Bayern had enough chances to win the first leg, but failed to make its dominance show on the scoresheet.

It has been a familiar story recently for the German giant, particularly its star striker Kane.

With 25 minutes gone, Kane hit the outside of the post from just five meters out, with only Inter keeper Yann Sommer to beat.

In Saturday's 2-2 Bundesliga draw against rival Borussia Dortmund, Vincent Kompany's men failed to make a glut of chances count.

If the German powerhouse is to reach the Champions League showpiece at its Allianz Arena home at the end of May, Kane and the forward line will need to find their lost killer instinct.

In its past two games, Bayern has scored three times from 46 shots on goal.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, centerbacks Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito, and wing-back Alphonso Davies will all miss the trip to Milan, hollowing out Bayern's defense. 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 goal on Saturday, is still nursing an Achilles injury, but looks set to play on Wednesday.

Against Dortmund, Bayern finished with one fit centerback on the field: English veteran Eric Dier.

Given the club's defensive woes, the need to convert chances becomes even more important.

Bayern and Kane had no trouble in the last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen, when the England captain scored three goals across the twogame tie.

The 31-year-old has 10 goals in 12 games this season in the Champions League.

Kane told reporters on Saturday his side was "dominant", but "was a bit wasteful with our chances "against Dortmund, as it 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," Kane said, adding, "it's about being there in the right moments.

"We didn't quite have that in the past two games, so, hopefully, we can turn that around on Wednesday."

Bayern is chasing the romance of winning the title on home soil, and hoping to exorcise the ghosts of its 2012 final loss to Chelsea in Munich.

Joshua Kimmich, often called upon to lead the side in Neuer's absence, said: "If we're a bit more efficient, the game can go our way.

"It's not like we need a miracle. We just need to win the game."

Bayern needs to find the net at least twice without reply to progress.

The Bavarians are not the first team this season to find it hard to score against Simone Inzaghi's men.

Thomas Muller's 85th-minute far-post tap-in last Tuesday was just the third goal Inter has conceded in 11 games this season in the Champions League.

After a 3-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday, Inzaghi said of Wednesday's return leg: "We've got to replicate our first-leg performance, playing with pace, aggression and organization.

"We go into this clash with a lot of confidence, against one of the top three or four teams in the world."

AFP