MADRID – And there’s number three! Diego Milito’s double ended a 45-year wait for Inter as the Nerazzurri defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to win the Champions League and complete an unprecedented treble.
The undisputed star of the show, Milito struck ten minutes before half time and scored his second 25 minutes after the restart to add to his goals which won us the Coppa Italia against Roma and the Scudetto in Siena.
Bayern, whose main tactic was to sweep the ball wide to Arjen Robben on the right wing, had more possession and shots on goal but Inter were more dangerous coming forward and Wesley Sneijder was unlucky not to score when his free kick took a deflection off Altintop, forcing Butt into a difficult save.
Sneijder set up Inter’s opener on 35 minutes, threading through to Milito who took one touch and did a feint before firing past Butt. The Dutchman should have gone from provider to scorer just before the break but he shot straight at the Bayern goalkeeper after receiving in the area from Milito.
Julio Cesar made sure it wasn’t Bayern’s night when he pulled off a brilliant save from Müller right after the restart.
Inter came close moments later when Pandev’s shot from Milito’s cross was tipped over by Butt, and Julio Cesar did the same from Robben’s curling shot as Bayern continued to churn out chances, prompting Mourinho to bring on Stankovic to protect his midfield and switch Zanetti to left-back.
The Nerazzurri soaked up the Bayern pressure and put the trophy beyond the Germans’ reach with twenty minutes remaining when Milito ran on to Eto’o’s through ball and elegantly turned Van Buyten before burying his shot into the far corner.
Mourinho granted Milito a standing ovation in additional time, bringing on Marco Materazzi in place of the Argentine. After the final whistle, a visibly emotional Mourinho embraced Javier Zanetti – who made a landmark 700th appearance for the club in tonight’s final – before going on a lap of honour with his son José junior. He then joined Massimo Moratti and his players on stage to receive the big-eared trophy – the perfect end to a season that will long be remembered.
Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-1)
Scorer: Milito 35, 70.
Bayern Munich: 22 Butt; 21 Lahm, 5 Van Buyten, 6 Demichelis, 28 Badstuber; 17 Van Bommel, 31 Schweinsteiger; 10 Robben, 25 Müller, 8 Altintop (18 Klose 63); 11 Olic (33 Gomez 74).
Subs not used: 1 Rensing, 13 Görlitz, 23 Pranjic, 26 Contento, 44 Tymoshchuk.
Coach: Louis Van Gaal.
Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu (5 Stankovic 68); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso; 27 Pandev (11 Muntari 79), 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto’o; 22 Milito (23 Materazzi 90+2).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 17 Mariga, 45 Balotelli.
Coach: José Mourinho.
Referee: Howard Webb (England).
Booked: Demichelis 25, Chivu 30, van Bommel 78.
Att: 78,000.