AC Milan - Inter summary: score, goals, highlights | Champions League semi-final first leg 2022-23
AC Milan vs Inter: Champions League semi-final first leg live
Full time: AC Milan 0-2 Inter
A decisive first half gives Inter the first-leg advantage! Milan began marginally the better in the opening minutes but it was Simone Inzaghi’s side who struck first in their first attack, Dzeko allowed to volley home Calhanoglu’s corner from close range.
From that moment on, it was one-way traffic for the ‘visitors’. And within a couple of minutes, they were two up, Mkhitaryan driving through a huge gap in the Milan defence to coolly make it 2-0.
Calhanoglu then struck the post with a fine effort from distance and Lautaro Martínez thought he had won a penalty, which was overturned by VAR. Inter threatened to run riot, with the Milan defence all over the place.
Milan at least managed to put up some resistance in the final minutes of the first half and that continued in a much less eventful second period.
The Rossoneri huffed and puffed as they looked for a way back into the tie and had the lion’s share of possession, but, without the injured Rafael Leão, struggled to create any meaningful opportunities. Tonali cracked one off the post from a Giroud knock-down and Onana dealt comfortably with a couple of deflected efforts.
Inter managed the game out well in the second period and even had he best opportunity of the half, with Maignan’s save from Dzeko arguably keeping them in the tie going into next week’s return leg.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/M6UQLGVQ5IDRUULWXNJQ3DR5BE.jpg)
Only six days to wait, then, for a second Derby della Madoninna of the week!
'Derby della' what? I'll leave you with a short explanation of the 'la Madoninna' along with a brief history of how things have gone between the two teams in the fixture.
We'll be back next week for more!
But what are the chances of Milan securing a two-goal win in the second leg? Recent history suggests that they're not that high...
At least they'll have 'home' advantage for a second game running.
What do AC Milan need to go through?
It's worth noting that, due the away goals rule being scrapped, a two-goal win for AC Milan in the second leg will not be enough to see them through, no matter the scoreline.
Should Stefano Pioli's team win by two goals, the tie will go to a 30-minute period of extra time. If it's still level, it'll then go to a penalty shootout.
Champions League semi-final second legs
Here's the state of play after the first legs of this season's Champions League semi-finals.
Remember that you won't have long to wait for the second legs to come around. Here's the schedule:
- Tuesday 16 May: Inter vs Milan, 3pm ET
- Wednesday 17 May: Manchester City vs Real Madrid, 3pm ET
Barella the unsung hero for Inter
If I were forced to choose an MVP in amongst copying and pasting Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan, I may well have opted for Barella, who was, as they say, "everywhere".
The Italy international is the heartbeat of this Inter team and set the tone in the first half.
Inter's Dzeko MVP?
Our friends over at Sofascore have named Inter striker Edin Dzeko as their MVP. The former Manchester City striker opened the score for his team in just the seventh minute and was a constant menace to a Milan defence that had a torrid time in the first half.
What do you think?
Only half time in Milan derby Champions League semi-final
Clearly not the night Milan wanted.
But are they capable of beating Inter 2-0 next week? Of course.
What about 3-0? If they're at their best, you'd also say 'yes'.
A scrappy end to this clash, which suits Inter perfectly.
Milan's first shot on target!
Finally, a save for Onana to make! Thiaw lofts a high ball up to Giroud, who knocks it down for Pogeba, whose shot takes a nick off a defender and is saved by Onana.
Four minutes of added time.
Bastoni is supposed to be playing in central defence for Inter but suddenly appears on the left wing, trying to nutmeg his way into the Milan box before being crowded out. He'd better get back there quick.
Origi has faded after a bright start, much like Milan, whose threat has dissipated in the last few minutes.
Bastoni in the wars again, this time clashing with Pobega near the touchline. Inter won't be in too much of a hurry in the last few minutes.
...over from Hernández!
A free-kick in a very dangerous position for Milan...
Huge chance for a third for Inter!
What a chance for a third for Inter! Lukaku and Barella link up to play in Gagliardini, who takes one touch too many and allows Thiaw to nick the ball off him before he can shoot.
AC Milan changes
Kalulu and Pobega on for Calabria and Díaz.
Messias has had a few opportunities to cut in on his left foot from the right but hasn't managed to get what you'd call a 'decent' shot away. This latest one is deflected and easily claimed by Onana.
Inter changes
Last changes for Inter.
Gagliardini and Correa on, Calhanoglu and Martínez off.
Calhanoglu smashes in a shot from range, which clips Thiaw's head and then his hand. VAR again decides to get involved butcorrectly waves play on.
Bastoni goes down in the Milan box and is not happy with Krunic, who seems to have smashed into him with a forearm in the chest. A VAR check leads to nothing though.
Did we go back in time to the first half there? Thiaw and Messias should both clear but don't, gifting the ball to Darmian inside the box. The defender's shot is defected just wide...and the corner comes to nothing.
More pressure from Milan. Hernandez gets the ball out on the left and has men to aim at in the box, only to swing it straight into Onana's hands.
Much, much better from Milan in the second half (it could've have been any worse, could it?). They could really do with a goal though.
More Inter subs: Lukaku on
Dzeko and Dimarco are replaced by Lukaku and De Vrig.
A chance for Thiaw from Messias' pass but he doesn't quite connect properly with it and it's cleared by Inter. He was in a good position there too.
Inter have been quiet in attack in this half but they have another effort on target. Acerbi tries his luck from range but it's straight down the throat of Maignan.
Origi looks in the mood! He's already done more in five minutes than Saelemaekers did in 60. Another great run down the left, let down by a weak cross.
And Tomori is next in the book for Milan for a foul on Dzeko.
Inter sub
Brozovic on for Mkhitaryan for Inter.
Tonali hits the post!
Almost a way back in for Milan! Origi immediately involved down the left, Giroud lays it off for Tonali, who cracks one off the outside of the post from just inside the box!
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/QPKSZESZBJ4CXCRKJZXRYSGTNY.jpg)
Flares going off inside the ground...I'm getting a sense of deja-vu from 2005.
You can read about what happened then in this piece from Will.
Still waiting for a shot on target for Milan...
Replacing one central defender with another suggests Pioli isn't best pleased with Kjaer's performance.
Double change for Milan
Kjaer and Saelemaekers off, Thiaw and Origi on.
A cross from Saelemaekers from the left...straight into the hands of Onana. Must do better.
Inter are happy to let Milan have the ball, although Pioli's men are definitely carrying more of a threat in this second half.
Another sight of goal for Milan but this time Tonali skews one well wide from long range.
What a save from Maignan!
How on earth have Inter got through so easily there? Bastoni runs and runs and runs unchallenged, plays a simple pass through to Dzeko, who find himself clean through on goal but sees his shot diverted over by Maignan.
Another chance for Milan!
The tide seems to be turning.
Tonali breaks through midfield and finds Messias in acres of space on the right. He bears down on goal and opens up his body perfectly for a left-foot curler, only to get it horribly wrong and shoot well wide.
Díaz has Milan's best effort!
I mentioned at the end of the first half that Díaz had started to come into the game and he's just had Milan's best effort of the game. It was a speculative one from 25 yards but it curled just wide of Onana's goal.
Hernandez curls one fo the far past but both Giroud is adjudged to have fouled Dumfries and the chance has gone.
A free-kick for Milan in a dangerous position as Díaz is fouled.
Milan immediately on the front foot. They look like they mean business. Mind you, I'd argue they started that way in the first half.
Second half underway!
Here we go!
Players on their way out for the second half
Same again for Inter. Never again for Milan.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/JYCIVVG4AAW5LEDX3R4LZ6BHV4.jpg)
I would argue, however, that it very much plays second fiddle to the AC Milan one in this game.
"What's a tifo?" you say? Glad you asked!
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/3AQXAPQMRG3A6G2ZLNTN35BGKY.jpg)
You may have wondered, by the way, why Inter don't have a sponsor on their jersey. You don't see that much nowadays, do you?
Joe is here to tell us the reason (it looks great, doesn't it?).
Inter comfortably in the driving seat
I know not everyone is an xG fan but...
To be honest, I'm surprised Milan's is that high and Inter's is that low.
Inter dressing room a happy place
I can confirm that the official AC Milan account hasn't put out a similar tweet. You'd be turning off your notifications for that one.
Half time: AC Milan 0-2 Inter
What a dream first half for Inter! Milan actually started marginally the better, enjoying some decent possession inside the opening minutes. Inter’s threat – and first goal – came out of the blue, coming from a free-kick just inside opposition territory. That free-kick led to a corner, which was volleyed in from close range by Edin Dzeko.
From that moment on, it was one-way traffic for the ‘visitors’. And within a couple of minutes, they were two up, Mkhitaryan driving through a huge gap in the Milan defence to coolly make it 2-0.
Calhanoglu then struck the post with a fine effort from distance and Lautaro Martínez thought he had won a penalty, which was overturned by VAR. Inter threatened to run riot, with the Milan defence all at sea.
Stefano Pioli’s men managed to stem the flow of Inter attacks and enjoyed their best spell of the game right at the end of the half, but they have still to test André Onana.
Messias gets down the outside for the first time and fires the ball across ball but it's too high for everyone and goes out the other side for a throw-in.
Milan have at least managed to stem the flow of Inter attacks in the last 10 minutes or so. It looked as if this could get ugly for a while (it still could).
Four minutes of injury time.
Krunic is first in the book for a foul in midfield.
Some lovely stepovers from Saelemaekers, reminiscent of a young Cristiano Ronaldo. But he, like Díaz, runs out of space in the box.
Díaz has finally started to get into the game in the last few minutes, which can only be a good sign for Milan. He's threatened to get away from the Inter midfield a couple of times but hasn't quite been able to.
Another half-chance for Giroud from another cross from the right but, once again, it's blocked just as he gets some meaningful contact on it.
I'm getting nervous watching Milan playing out from the back but they do a good job this time and manage to work their way up the field. But as much as it's not happening for them at the back, it's not happening in attack either, with Darmian thwarting Giroud's attempts to get on the end of a cross.
Seconds later Calabria is at it again, completely miscueing a clearance, which falls to Barella, whose shot is blocked.
Wow, the Milan defence looks like they've just come in from a night out. Kjaer and Tomori leave the ball to each other, Calabria tries to clean up the mess but gives away a throw trying to dribble round Lautaro.
Milan have managed to go for two minutes without giving up a chance. Well done, lads.
Another chance for Inter!
ANOTHER chance for Inter, that should read.
Dimarco is again the man in space on the left, this time his opposite wing-back Dumfries gets on the end of his deflected striker and pokes one wide on the run.
Just over from Lautaro!
Or maybe not...
Inter stream forward again, Dimarco's shot is blocked and ends up with Lautaro, who tries his luck from distance but his effort flies just over.
Maybe that can be the kick up the backside Milan were needing?
Tomori and Kjaer get themselves in a right mess as Lautaro skips into the box but he went down easily.
Penalty for Inter!
Lautaro goes down...penalty!
First chance for Milan!
Giroud is not only a handsome chap but he's a pretty good soccer player too. His hold-up play creates Milan's first chance, which ends with Messias crossing for Calarbria, whose flick hits the side netting!
The corner is half-cleared to the edge of the box, where Díaz gets on the end of it and tries to play a one-two with Giroud, but Bastoni does well to read it and cut out the danger.
A first chance for Saelemaekers to run at the Inter defence and he manages to win a free-kick off Barella just when it looks as if he'd lost possession.
An opportunity for Milan...
Milan are flustered. They try to take a quick free-kick to force the issue but gift the ball straight back to Inter.
Dzeko's Champions League semi-final record
I guess we should've been expecting it, shouldn't we?
How's his final record...?
Ok, so we've established that Dzeko isn't peak Messi but he's a constant threat. He picks up possession on the angle of the box and fires a short in but it flies over the bar.
Dzeko suddenly thinks he's peak Messi and nutmegs Tomori before trying to break away. Unlike peak Messi, however, he doesn't have the nippy-ness to do so and loses possession.
Who's Inter's goalkeeper again?
Oh yeh, it's André Onana.
A bit of calm in the game for the first time in the last 12 or 13 minutes or so. Milan have the ball but also have their work cut out.
Nothing is going Milan's way. Tonali goes on a jinking run towards the Inter box and appears to be clipped by Dumfires on the edge...nothing given.
Injured Bennacer goes off
Messias comes on for the injured Bennacer. What a nightmare start for Milan.
Injury troubles for AC Milan
To make matters worse for Milan, Bennacer has hurt his knee and his going to have to go off and Maignan also looks to have picked up a knock.
Wow, if it doesn't rain, it pours.
This could almost be all over already...
Inter hit the post!
Oh my word. Calhanoglu fires one in from distance, Maignan is nowhere near and it comes off the inside of the post!
The danger isn't over there as the ball comes back into the box and Mkhitaryan draws a low save from the Milan goalkeeper.
Milan penalty claim!
It's all going on! As Milan try to get back into the game, Tonali swings in a corner and Acerbi has his hands on Saelemaekers...the Spanish referee says there's nothing doing.
As I said, Inter had barely seen any of the ball or strung any passes together until that Tomori foul, in a fairly harmless position, it should be said.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL INTER! Mkhitaryan!
What am I watching here?!
Dimarco gets away down the left, players the ball infield and it finds the run of Mkhitaryan, who runs off Tonali and has acres of space to stride into before firing past Maignan!
If you're of a Milan persuasion, you'll be wondering how a corner can land at the feet of the opposition's most lethal striker...
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL INTER! DZEKO!
Simple as you like! Calhanoglu's corner, Dzeko's first-time volley finds the top corner!
Not much appeared to be the answer but Dimarco's ball in has gone behind for a corner off a Milan head.
A chance for Inter to get the ball into the box as Tomori fouls Dzeko inside the Milan half. What can they do here?
Not much in the way of possession for Inter so far. No threat at either end though as the teams try to work each other out.
That might be the most off-target pass I've ever seen from Kjaer, who tries a diagonal ball to Hernandez but miscues completely and ends up putting it out for a goal kick on the opposite side of the goal. Oops.
A first decent spell of possession here for Milan, who are knocking the ball about crisply. Although they go all the way back to Maignan, who kicks it long and loses it.
A minute later, Hernandez and Dumfries are at it again. The Inter man slides in on the Frenchman, hard but fair this time.
That didn't take long. First free-kick 15 seconds into the game as Hernandez catches Dumfries late on the Inter right.
Kick off at San Siro!
Inter get us underway!
Kick-off seconds away!
Are you ready for this? Let's go!
Champions League anthem time
What an incredible atmosphere inside San Siro tonight. I'm honestly not sure I've heard anything quite like it.
To say Italians love their soccer would be something of an understatement...
Inter team to play Milan
The appropriately named central defende Milan Skriniar is the main absentee for Inter. Lukaku starts on the bench.
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Lautaro.
- goalkeeper
- 24Andre Onana
- defenders
- 36Darmian
- 95Alessandro Bastoni
- 15Acerbi
- midfielders
- 2Denzel Dumfries
- 22Mkhitaryan
- 20Calhanoglu
- 32Dimarco
- 23Barella
- forwards
- 10Lautaro Martínez
- 9Dzeko
- substitutes
- CoachSimone Inzaghis
- 8Robin Gosens
- 21Cordaz
- 1S. Handanovic
- 33D'Ambrosio
- 12Raoul Bellanova
- 14Kristjan Asllani
- 46Mattia Zanotti
- 90Lukaku
- 6de Vrij
- 77Brozovic
- 11Joaquin Correa
- 5Gagliardini
Milan team to play Inter
Just a few minutes to go until kick-off! Here's a little reminder of the Milan team to face Inter:
Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernández; Krunic, Tonali, Diaz, Benacer, Saelemaekers; Giroud.
The team is listed as 4-5-1 on Milan's Twitter account but I imagine Tonali and Benacer will play deeper midfield roles.
- goalkeeper
- 16Mike Maignan
- defenders
- 24Kjaer
- 2Davide Calabria
- 23Fikayo Tomori
- 19Theo Hernández
- midfielders
- 8Sandro Tonali
- 56Alexis Saelemaekers
- 33Rade Krunic
- 4Bennacer
- 10Brahim Diaz
- forwards
- 9Giroud
- substitutes
- CoachStefano Piolis
- 30Junior Messias
- 83Mirante
- 32Tommaso Pobega
- 28Malick Thiaw
- 90Charles De Ketelaere
- 12Ante Rebic
- 20Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa
- 92Lapo Nava
- 27Divock Origi
- 46Matteo Gabbia
- 5Fode Toure
Spoiler alert, Milan have never lost a European knockout tie to an Italian club. But what is their record against city rivals Inter?
Here's everything you need to know. And yes, that photo is in here.
Here's a question I had genuinely never asked myself. Who is the bigger club: AC Milan or Inter?
Interestingly, there doesn't appear to be a simple answer. Inter have had more domestic success than their city rivals (which took me by surprise a little, I must admit), while Milan have been triumphant on the European stage more often (not being Italian, that's possibly why I would've sided with them).
Here are the details, along with more on Ballon d'Or winners, public image, fans and finances from our Will.
Inter: recent form
Inter, meanwhile, have completely turned things around after a poor run of form in March and some of April threatened to derail their season. They have turned a run of only one win in nine games in all competitions into just one loss in 10, which includes five victories in a row.
In those five games, they’ve scored 15 goals and conceded just once. That’s what I call red-hot form.
AC Milan: recent form
Both teams head into the game in pretty good shape.
The ‘hosts’ haven’t lost a game since all the way back on 18 March, when they were defeated in Udinese. Since then, they are unbeaten in nine matches, which includes a superb 4-0 win away to runaway Serie A leaders Napoli, as well as two Champions League ties against them. Too many draws (five), however, have prevented them from breaking into the top four.
Champions League semi-final or Milan Fashion Week? Olivier Giroud is just too handsome for his own good. Actually, that's probably not a thing.
Obligatory tweet of players arriving at the stadium? Check.
Inter: 2022-23 season so far
As I mentioned, Inter are also locked in the battle to finish in the top four in Serie A and qualify for next season’s Champions League through their league position. However, with games against Napoli and Atalanta coming up before the end of the campaign, they still have plenty of work to do to see off the challenge of their co-tenants, and possibly others.
Inzaghi’s side have, however, fared rather better than Milan in the Coppa Italia. They have won home games against Parma, Atalanta and Juventus (after a semi-final first-leg draw) to reach the final, where they will face Fiorentina on Wednesday 24 May.
With them having already won the Supecoppa Italiana, there is a chance they could end the season with a cup treble.
AC Milan: 2022-23 season so far
Last season, Milan won Serie A for the first time since 2011, which automatically means that this year has been a bit of a disappointment domestically. As things stand, they won’t qualify for the 2023-24 Champions League unless they win it this season, although they are only two points off the top four with four matches left to play. Inter, of course, are one of the teams they are battling it out with, along with Lazio and Juventus. Champions Napoli are obviously already home and dry.
There’s been little to shout about in the cup competitions other than the Champions League, with Milan eliminated from the Coppa Italia in the round of 16 (where they entered) by Torino, days before suffering a 3-0 loss to Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/OECIO6VVD3PYMHMATDQLFRVSDM.jpg)
Just to round off my San Siro tales (for now, at least), here's what all soccer-going fans from around the world need to know. The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is one of the world's most iconic grounds but there is serious word that it might not be around for too much longer.
Why do AC Milan and Inter want to leave and what's the latest on the possible *shudders* demolition of San Siro?
Maldini and Shevchenko: Milan legends
I think it's compulsory to say, "what a player he was, by the way!" any time you see a bona fide club legend at a big game once their playing days are over. Well, here we have two.
Paolo Maldini (902 appearances, seven league titles, five European Cups, Champions Leagues) is currently Milan's technical director, while Andriy Shevchenko (175 goals) has been invited along to the game by the club as a special guest.
Before I was rudely interrupted by both teams deciding to announce their starting line-ups, I shared with you the reason why they both play at San Siro.
But what are the practicalities of ground sharing? Do fans sit in the same 'home' end or do they have different ones? What happens when they play against each other?
So many questions. Here are the answers.
One man who does start for AC Milan, however, is Fikayo Tomori - the first Englishman to play in a UCL semi-final for a non-English club in 19 years. I can't imagine any player from any other 'elite' nation would come close to that.
Good work from statto Opta Joe here.
Rafael Leão absence a huge blow for AC Milan
Milan boss Stefano Pioli received criticism in the press and from supporters from choosing to leave Rafael Leão on the bench in some games earlier in the season, a strange decision considering he is generally the Rossoneri's main creative force.
The Portuguese has had 26 goal contributions (13 goals, 13 assists) in 44 appearances so far this season but he won't be adding to that tally in this game. Let's hope he at least has the chance next week as he's one of Europe's most devastating attackers when he's on form.
Inter team to play AC Milan: Lukaku left out
No Lukaku in the starting line-up, with Dzeko and Lautaro starting in attack.
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Lautaro.
Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan are really going to make me work for my money in this game.
AC Milan team to play Inter: No Rafael Leão
The news that we were all half expecting is in: there's no Rafael Leão for AC Milan. That's a big blow.
Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Hernández; Krunic, Tonali, Diaz, Benacer, Saelemaekers; Giroud.
I was going to say that today's clash was unique until I remembered that they are playing each other again next Tuesday...
This tie is unique in that it brings together two teams not only from the same city but who share the same stadium in the city. Off the top of my head, I can't remember this happening in the Champions League before and I can only think of Roma and Lazio potentially being in the same situation were both of them to suddenly become powerhouses in European soccer (although maybe it could happen in the Europa League?).
Here's an explanation from Joe on why they share San Siro.
Dzeko? Lukaku? Lautaro? Who starts for Inter?
The famous blue and black stripes of Inter in the obligatory pre-match dressing room tweet. I've heard clubs get docked points or fined if they don't put out such a tweet.
How much should we read into these names when it comes to the starting line-up?
90 minutes until kick-off!
An hour-and-a-half to go until an hour-and-a-half of Champions League soccer!
Who've you got for this one?
Inter in the 2022-23 Champions League
Inter were drawn in the stereotypical ‘group of death’ alongside Bayern Munich and Barcelona (oh, and Viktoria Plzen too). But they came out of it alive despite losing twice to the Germans. A controversial home win over Barça, along with a draw at Camp Nou, proved crucial, with everybody else also defeated twice by Bayern twice and beating the Czechs home and away.
Like their city rivals, Inter won their round-of-16 tie against Porto by a home goal to nil. Whoever said Italian soccer was boring and defensive (it’s not anymore, by the way)? Just to prove it, the Nerazzuri also disposed of Portuguese opposition in an entertaining tie in the next round, impressively winning 2-0 at Benfica before progressing thanks to a 3-3 draw at San Siro.
And here we are.
AC Milan in the 2022-23 Champions League
Right, let's have a little look at how the two clubs have fared in the competition so far this season.
Milan lost twice to Chelsea (back when the Blues occasionally scored goals and won games) in the group stages but progressed from Group E in second spot thanks to big wins at home to Red Bull Salzburg and away to Dinamo Zagreb, who they also saw off at San Siro.
Pioli’s men then edged past Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16 (which seems less impressive now that Spurs have fallen to pieces) and ruined European soccer’s fairytale story of the season by eliminating everybody’s new second-favourite team Napoli in the quarter-finals. Diego Maradona’s former club can at least console themselves with a first Serie A title in 33 years.
Right light for Milan's night?
I can already hear claims that if AC Milan end up thumping Inter here, we'll be hearing about how it was all down to the right lighting in the San Siro tunnel.
The main news coming out of that match-up today inevitably centred around Haaland.
What wasn’t inevitable, however, was that it centred around Erling’s Dad Alfie, who you may remember from his playing days with Manchester City and Leeds United. It turns out that Haaland Sr wasn’t exactly on his best behaviour at the Bernbaéu yesterday.
Here’s more.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/diarioas/PF5MDUUOPAZCAML6H6X6AXQBLI.JPG)
As I mentioned right at the top (or the bottom, in this case), the winners of this tie will play the Champions League final in Istanbul against either Madrid or City, who couldn’t be separated at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu yesterday.
Just in case you missed it, here’s how that one went down.
Will Milan be red and black in a few hours' time?
This is AC Milan's 'home' game, so they are free to dress San Siro up as they wish. The main question, however, is whether the city will be red and black come the end of the match and indeed the tie.
Just to tie that early team news up in a neat little bow, this is how my wonderful colleague Joe reckons the two teams are going to line up at San Siro.
We won't have to wait too much longer to find out.
Inter early team news
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi could be boosted by the return to action of vice-captain Danilo D’Amboriso, although it does seem unlikely that he will start the game. Long-term injury victim Dalbert, who has spent most of his time at the club out on loan, is expected to be joined on the sidelines for this one by centre-back Milan Skriniar, who will join PSG on a free transfer in this summer (good luck with that one), and left wing-back Robin Gosens.
The big question mark will be who starts in attack in Inzaghi’s likely 3-5-2 formation. Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez have both been in amongst the goals recently despite not having started together in any of Inter’s last seven games; could they be given the nod ahead of Edin Dzeko and Joaquín Correa?
AC Milan early team news
We’re still a little bit away from having the official team line-ups for the game but let’s take a look at who is – and perhaps most importantly – isn’t going to play.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli has a potential selection headache to contend with as winger Rafael Leão, who has been one of the Rossoneri’s most dangerous attacking weapons this season, was forced off early on against Lazio on Saturday and is a big doubt. The player himself has said he would be back “soon”, although Italian media have interpreted that as being in time for next Tuesday’s second leg, rather than the first. Pioli hasn't give up hope, though.
Who could replace him? Well, it won’t be Zlatan ‘lions don’t compare themselves with humans’ Ibrahimovic, who isn’t registered for European competitions and has an injured paw anyway. Either Alexis Saelemaekers or Ante Rebic will probably take Leão’s place if he’s not available.
Young midfielder Tomasso Pogeba is another fitness doubt but wouldn't have started in any case.
Of course, you may be looking for a way to watch the game, in which case, you are bang in luck. If you’re watching from the United States, there is a way and this is it!
You can also watch a live stream of AC Milan vs Inter on fuboTV (free trial available)
What time does AC Milan vs Inter kick off?
Before we take a proper look at the two teams and indeed the derby as a whole, time for a bit of admin. What time does the game actually get going?
You experienced Champions League campaigners will already be well aware, I’m sure, but just in case. Wednesday’s clash gets underway at 9pm local time in Milan, that’s 3pm ET and 12pm PT.
Over the course of the next couple of hours, I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty, plenty more. Are you ready? Let’s do this!
Hello and welcome to AC Milan vs Inter!
Ladies and gentlemen, Italian soccer is back! There were three Serie A clubs in the Champions League quarter-finals and at least one will make it to the final to take on either Real Madrid or Manchester City, who played out a 1-1 draw last night.
The stakes are always high in the Derby della Madoninna but for AC Milan and Inter, things will be cranked up a further notch this week and next as they battle it out not only for supremacy in the capital of Lombardy, but also for the chance to finally be crowned kings of Europe once again. It’s been a while.
I’m Roddy and thank you for joining me for the first leg of what promises to be a unique Champions League semi-final between the San Siro co-tenants.