CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
AC Milan starting XI & injury update vs Inter | Champions League 2022-23 semi-final, second leg
With the recovery of Rafa Leão confirmed, here’s how Pioli’s side are lining up vs Inter as they plan for a glorious comeback.
AC Milan’s first Champions League tie against city rivals Inter since 2005 did not go how the majority of the crowd at San Siro would have liked. Within 10 minutes and 17 seconds strikes from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan had put them 0-2 down and from then on, the hill was too steep to climb.
- Inter vs AC Milan: Follow the live action here!
Inter vs AC Milan: team news
AC Milan huffed and puffed their way through the rest of the game but eventually, after 5,400 elongated seconds of suffering, the referee blew the whistle and sent both teams home. Pioli’s side were lucky to come away only having conceded two goals, with Inter running riot for the majority of the game. But the semi-finals are two legged affairs, and stranger things have happened than a two-goal deficit being overturned, especially when they’re still playing at ‘home’.
AC Milan came into the first leg of the tie with the huge news that star player Rafa Leão would be out with a thigh muscle injury. The Portuguese winger is AC Milan’s most impactful player, and has scored 12 goals this season coming in from the left. He had trained on his own in the morning before the game and did not pass a fitness test in the build-up to kick-off.
AC Milan injury update
The injury list has been lengthy for the Rossoneri, who came into the second leg with a basket full of questionable players. Bennacer’s season was ended in the first leg by a knee cartilage injury. Florenzi and Ibrahimovic - who wouldn’t get a medal even if they won the tournament - are the other two players in the San Siro infirmary.
The good news is that Milan are able to count on the services of both Krunic and Messias, who missed the loss against Spezia after suffering knocks.
Sliding our way up the positivity ladder, the great news is that it seemed as though Rafa Leão would be fit to play a part in the game, after head coach Piolo confirmed that “Leão is better, he trained in a group and we hope he can play from the start, if everything goes as it should.” And as the team news was announced, he was clearly ready.
AC Milan starting XI vs Inter
AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernández; Tonali, Krunic, Díaz; Leão, Messias; Giroud
Check out the Inter team news and starting XI