In a repeat of the 2010 Champions League final, it was the then-runners-up Bayern Munich who struck first, taking the lead midway through the first half.
Pavard, who was very much a fringe player prior to his selection tonight, found himself unmarked inside the Inter penalty area, before heading home Joshua Kimmich’s whipped corner with considerable ease to repay Roten manager Julian Nagelsmann’s faith in him.
While lackadaisical defending may have been to blame for Bayern’s opener, the visitors did have reason to feel aggrieved at the break. Appearing to swat Nicolo Barella’s strike away with his hands, a seemingly blatant handball from Sadio Mane (30) was waved away by Ivan Kružliak, with the Slovak referee sticking by his original decision following a VAR check.
Although Inter could finish nowhere but second, their frustrations would be amplified in the second period, when they struggled to match their hosts for stamina and fell further behind in the 72nd minute.
This time it was Choupo-Moting who did the honours, advancing on a retreating Inter backline before whistling a crisp shot beyond his compatriot Andre Onana.
Despite being on the wrong end of an inconsequential result, this was still a disappointing night for Inter, who missed the chance to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions.
A positive result at the Allianz Arena would’ve also marked the first time they’d gone five matches without defeat in the UCL since lifting the trophy in 2010.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)
