UEFA Champions League: Milito Brace Leads Inter Milan To Title, Beating Bayern Munich 2-0

Internazionale Milano won their third European championship, their first in 45 years, beating Bayern Munich 2-0 on Saturday in Madrid.

Diego Milito was the match's star, scoring both goals, the second a solo effort that saw him get the ball forty yards from goal, slowly move Daniel van Buyten back into the area before losing the central defender and beating Jörg Bütt for the insurance goal.

Milito had put Inter up in the first half with another composed finish, being put through on goal by Wesley Sneijder in the 35th minute, beating an oncoming Bütt before he could be closed-down by Bayern's defenders.

Both goals were typical Inter - counter attacks that created clean opportunities for the Nerazzurri.  The first saw a long ball out of their own end find Sneijder's feet after an aerial challenge, with the Dutch distributor finding Milito running between defenders.  The second goal had Milito and Samuel Eto'o alone on Bayern's center halves, with a nice run by Eto'o opening up space for Milito.

Bayern dominated the match's possession, controlling the ball for two-thirds of the match.  However, the German champions were only able to create on clear chance on goal.

Less than one minute into the second half, Thomas Müller was put in an identical position to Milito on the Argentine's first goal.  Near-even with the goalkeeper's left post, Müller was alone for a shot from around 16 yards out.  Inter goalie Júlio César started coming off his line and went to ground, but whereas Milito put the ball high into the Bayern net, Müller hit his shot straight into César's legs.

And in that single opportunity given, the way Inter scored their two goals, Internazionale won the Champions League in their trademark style.  They were composed throughout that match yet aggressive into every counter attacking opportunity, looking for opportunities to catch their opponents off-balance.  In the process, they never looked apt to give Bayern two goals.

With the title, coach José Mourinho wins his second Champions League, winning his initial championship in 2003-04 with FC Porto (Portugal).  Samuel Eto'o, who came over from Barcelona in the summer, won his third Champions League, but for most of the Nerazzurri squad this was their first taste of European glory.

It completes a season that saw Internazionale win their third fifth straight Serie A title and the Coppa Italia before winning Europe's championshp.  They are the sixth team to complete that treble, with Barcelona doing the same last year.

Mourinho is the third coach to win the title with two different teams.

Diego Milito did all the work this time, getting a ball forty yards from goal, one-on-one with Daniel van Buyten, slowly working his way toward goal before shaking his defender and beating Jörg Bütt, giving Internazionale a 2-0 lead.

Milito got a short pass from Samuel Eto’o just inside Bayern’s half. Eto’o run drew center half Martin Demichelis away from the play, leaving Milito alone with van Buyten as the Nerazzurri countered.

Just inside the box, Milito went right, cut back to his left, losing van Buyten and finishing to Bütt’s far post, making it 2-0.

It was Milito’s 30th all-competition goal of the year.

Shortly before, José Mourinho has taken off left back Cristian Chivu, bringing-on Dejan Stankovic, moving Javier Zanetti to left back.

Bayern has since responded by bringing on Mario Gómez for Ivica Olic, going with two big strikers in anticipation for Inter becoming more defensive.

Seventeen minutes into the second half, and Louis van Gaal has made the first substitution, bringing on striker Miroslav Klose for winger Hamit Altintop.

Internazionale, with the lead, has kept nine men behind the ball and have been looking for counters, While Bayern continues to dominate possession, the German’s shots have been limited.

Van Gaal’s substitution looks to move Thomas Müller wide left from his previous role behind Ivica Olic, leaving the Croatian and Klose as duel strikers.

Diego Milito’s 35th minute goal has Internazionale 45 minutes away from their first European championship in 45 years. They lead Bayern Munich 1-0 at halftime of the UEFA Champions League final in Madrid.

Milito finished a Wesley Sneijder set-up ten minutes before half to put the Italian champions ahead in trademark Internazionale fashion. The Nerazzurri had ceded much of the first half possession to Bayern, yet had shown small, unsuccessful signs of their typical bursts into attack.

Milito’s goal was exactly that. A long ball, a aerial challenge, the ball falling to Sneijder’s feet, and then a finish from the Argentine.

Bayern has held 66 percent of the possession ad have ten shots, one on goal. Inter has had seven shots but four have been on frame.

Munich’s Martín Demichelis and Inter’s Cristian Chivu have picked up yellow cards.

The Champions League final is being aired live on Fox.

Diego Milito has put Internazionale up 1-0, a right footed finish from near the spot in the match’s 35th minute.

It was an Inter counter attack that saw a long ball played to Wesley Sneijder, who found Milito making a run between Holger Badstuber and Daniel van Buyten. The Argentine finished calmly passed an on-coming Jörg Bütt to make it 1-0.

Bayern had controlled roughly two-thirds of the match’s possession to that point, though neither team had generated a strong chance.

The lineups are announced for the Champions League final in Madrid, set to start at 3 p.m. Eastern (Fox). Both teams are going with their predicted XI:

Bayern Munich

GK – Jörg Butt
LB – Holger Badstuber
CB – Martín Demichelis
CB – Daniel van Buyten
RB – Philip Lahm
LW – Hamit Altintop
MF – Bastian Schweinsteiger
MF – Mark van Bommel
RW – Arjen Robben
F – Thomas Müller
F – Ivica Olic

Internazionale

G – Júlio César
LB – Christian Chivu
CB – Watler Samuel
CB – Lucio
RB – Maicon
MF – Javier Zanetti
MF – Esteban Cambiasson
MF – Wesley Schneider
F – Gordan Pandev
F – Diego Milito
F – Samuel Eto’o