Gomez gives Bayern last-gasp win

Bayern, beaten 2-0 by Inter coached by Jose Mourinho in last season’s final, scored at the end of normal time [EPA]

Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez continued his resurgence with a last-gasp goal to clinch a 1-0 European Champions League win at titleholders Inter Milan.

Bayern, inspired by Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, cancelled out Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder to give the German side some revenge for last season’s 2-0 loss to the Italian champions in the final.

Winning coach Louis van Gaal described as “wonderful” a match that suggested his team are close finding the form which took them to last season’s final and won them a domestic double.

Inter also created plenty of chances in an end-to-end game but a home defeat in the last-16 first-leg match left their hopes of defending the title hanging by a thread.

“Inter surprised me, they played to win and that is very beautiful,” said Van Gaal.

Last 16 fixtures

Tuesday February 15  AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham  Valencia 1-1 Schalke Wednesday February 16  Roma 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk  Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona Tuesday February 22  Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea  Lyon 1-1 Real Madrid Wednesday February 23  Marseille v Man Utd  Inter Milan v Bayern

“The whole world has seen a wonderful game and I think both sets of fans could be happy with this game.

“In last year’s final, Inter attacked less but got a better result. But that’s football.”

Striker Gomez, widely considered a failure in his first season with Bayern, followed up to score his first Champions League knockout stage goal after Arjen Robben’s shot had been blocked in the last minute.

It was his seventh goal in this season’s competition, level with Inter’s Samuel Eto’o, who was twice denied by Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka.

‘Disappointing game’

Manchester United and Marseille cancelled each other out in a largely uninspiring match at the Stade Velodrome where Marseille’s passionate fans were left frustrated by their team’s failure to break down United’s defence.

“It was a disappointing game,” United manager Alex Ferguson said.

“They made sure they weren’t going to concede a goal. 0-0 can be a dangerous score but we will be better at home” added Ferguson who will be confident of advancing to the last eight at Old Trafford in three weeks time.

“It is not a bad result for us, in the first game it is very important not to concede a goal,” Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said.

“It was a hard game against a big team and my players have done their best.”

Darren Fletcher went closest for United while Brandao’s weak header was all the home side had to show for their increased effort in the second half.

Bayern battle

Gomez became the Bundesliga’s most expensive signing when he joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart at the start of last season, but struggled to settle.

He played little part in the team which won the Bundesliga and German Cup double and losing to Inter in the final.

Given his chance after Bayern were plagued by injuries earlier this season, Gomez – the Bundesliga’s leading scorer with 18 goals – suddenly found his form with four hat-tricks, including one in the Champions League.

Bayern quickly set about neutralising Sneijder, making their point with two tough tackles on the Dutchman by Luiz Gustavo, but Van Gaal denied his compatriot had been unfairly treated.

“It’s natural that we want stop Sneijder but I don’t think we committed too many fouls,” he said.

“In any case, he’s a master in making the most of things. I think we dealt with the Sneijder problem effectively.”

Sneijder’s frustration showed when he was booked for dissent in the second half.

Luiz Gustavo, who has stepped in for departed captain Mark van Bommel, was twice close to scoring as Bayern dominated the early possession, at one stage stringing more than 40 passes together.

Ribery, whose absence along with Robben earlier in the season was blamed for Bayern’s poor start, also headed against the crossbar.

But Cameroon striker Eto’o was always a threat and forced a superb save from Thomas Kraft after turning past two opponents.

The many chances in the second half included Robben hitting the post for Bayern and Esteban Cambiasso missing a sitter at the other end after Eto’o’s shot was parried by Kraft.

Sneijder and Eto’o both went close for Inter in the dying seconds before Bayern struck to put themselves in command for the second leg in Munich on March 15.