AC Milan vs Inter LIVE: Result and reaction from Champions League semi-final as Inter take control of tie

The atmosphere is building nicely around the San Siro ahead of what should be a tantilising encounter between the two Milan teams.

A tight first leg between two evenly contested teams leaves the tie in the balance for next week’s second leg.

AC Milan 1-1 Inter Milan.

AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Diaz, Bennacer, Saelemaekers; Giroud.

Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Lukaku.

AC Milan’s Rafael Leao was forced off after just 12 minutes against Lazio, and the forward is a major doubt for this first leg, even if he has hinted that he has avoided serious injury. A late fitness test could decide if Leao is able to feature, but Stefano Pioli’s squad is otherwise in reasonable health.

Pioli said Leao would either start the game or not play at all, adding that Belgian winger Alexis Saelemaekers was a potential replacement for Wednesday’s match at the San Siro.

“Today he (Leao) trained, tomorrow I will decide what to do,” Pioli told reporters, adding that he was not stressing over the 23-year-old’s fitness. “I’m going to bed quietly tonight, anyway in the morning Rafa and the doctor will tell me his condition. If he is well he will be called up, otherwise not.

“If the test is clean he can play. If it is not clean he cannot play -- either from the start or the end. I would have preferred to do it today, but it was not possible.”

Simone Inzaghi rotated a little in Inter’s weekend Serie A action, particularly in his forward line, and could opt to start Romelu Lukaku again up front. Danilo D’Ambrosio could be fit to feature, but a shoulder injury is likely to keep Robin Gosens out.

The first leg of the semi final is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 10th May at their shared San Siro ground in Milan.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on BT Sport 1 with coverage from 7pm. Subscribers can stream the action via the BT Sport app or online player.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

There’s a Milan derby on show this evening as AC Milan and Inter Milan clash at the San Siro in a throwback to the yesteryears of European competition.

The Serie A clubs were both staples of the Champions League in the 90s and early 2000s but the dominance from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and clubs from Premier League meant the teams in Serie A were overshadowed in this tournament.

But they’re back this year. Milan, Inter and Napoli all progressed into the knockout rounds and with this semi-final being a Milan derby there is a guaranteed spot in the final for a team from the Italian top flight.

Who will it be? Inter last won the Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho and have gotten the better of Milan in three of their last four meetings. They are also in arguably better form although histoy is favours their opponents.

Milan have won the competition seven times, second only to Real Madrid, are they on course to add a eighth title to their tally this year?