Inter Milan vs AC Milan LIVE: Result and reaction as Martinez goal sends Inter into Champions League final
Inter 1-0 Milan (3-0 agg): Inter triumphed in the Milan derby to reach the European showpiece
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Your support makes all the difference.Inter Milan reached the Champions League final in competent fashion with a controlled and clinical display against city rivals AC Milan.
Carrying a two-goal advantage into the second leg the Nerazzurri didn’t need to overly exert themselves in attack and instead focused on winning the midfield battle to cut out the supply lines to Milan’s returning star Rafael Leao. The first half was a tight affair with both goalkeeper called into action, Andre Onana smothered Brahim Diaz’s early shot and Mike Maignan denied Edin Dzeko.
The half-time break came and went but Milan didn’t look like breaking through Inter’s solid backline. The introduction of Romelu Lukaku then ended Milan’s hopes of a comeback. A selfless centre-forward display ensured he set up Lautaro Martinez for the only goal of the game and as Inter extended their aggregate lead to three the Champions League final dream became reality.
Relive all the action as Inter and Milan clashed in the Champions League semi-final:
Milan derby creates thrilling sensory overload that shows how football should be
After the first leg, on a night of thrilling sensory overload, Internazionale left with the feeling that mattered most: victory, and in the match that matters most.
That it was 2-0 at the San Siro, from the most thrilling of starts, went some way to finishing this Champions League semi-final when it had barely begun, putting Simone Inzaghi’s fine cup team on the brink of the grandest final in club football. It still could have been much worse for AC Milan, who badly missed their best player in Rafael Leao. It meant they had no answer – either at the back or front – to Inter’s individual stars. Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan plundered lightning bolts of early goals.
One of a few remaining hopes for Milan is that Leao’s return can spark a comeback that had some embers in that second half. There was also the almost irrational manner that Inter started the game, as much borne of the emotion of everything that was happening as any imposed idea.
The same can happen in the second leg, especially since Milan were the “home” side here. Stefano Pioli at least has to ensure they believe that. That’s what much of this came down to, as the entire occasion ratcheted up to something that went beyond a sporting spectacle.
Milan derby creates thrilling sensory overload that shows how football should be
AC Milan 0-2 Inter: The ‘visitors’ took control of this Champions League semi-final on a night that went beyond sporting spectacle
Inter vs AC Milan
Inter are in the last four for the first time since claiming their third European Cup in 2009/10 while Milan have reached a first semi-final in 16 seasons.
They have won eight of their last nine contests at this stage.
Inter vs AC Milan
AC Milan have won both previous contests on aggregate against their neighbours Inter, including at this stage of their victorious 2002/03 campaign.
They’ll need to come from behind to do so again tonight.
Inter vs AC Milan
Inter Milan are the last Italian side to win the Champions League and are well placed to return to the final for the first time since that triumph 13 years ago.
Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both struck early in the first leg at San Siro as the away side claimed a first European victory against their city rivals.
Hakan Calhanoglu also hit the woodwork for Inter in the first period, with Sandro Tonali’s second-half shot against the outside of the post the closest Milan came to a response in the first leg.
Inter vs AC Milan
The fans have arrived outside the San Siro ahead of the 8pm kick off. Inter are playing at ‘home’ this evening so have been allocated more seats for their supporters.
It’s going to be a tough ask for AC Milan to get out of this one. They need to overturn a two goal deficit to stand a chance of reaching the final.
Being confronted by fans and returning star driving AC Milan bid to reverse history
Confronted by their own ultras, AC Milan have encountered issue after issue in the build-up to Tuesday’s monumental return leg, but one problem is a lot more longstanding. It is also so immediate, since it is precisely the challenge against Internazionale.
Milan might be the second most successful club in Champions League history, having played in the very first European Cup season in 1955-56, but that distinguished record has never seen them come back from more than a goal behind from a knock-out first leg. All that grand glory, and nothing to really inspire for this biggest of games against their greatest rivals.
That might seem somewhat superficial but the profound potential effect should not be dismissed. You only have to look at last season, and this year’s possible final opponent, for the greatest illustration of how it works. Real Madrid are the European champions in large part because their stadium had seen so many great comebacks, fostering this belief within the team as well as an aura around it.
Being confronted by fans and returning star driving AC Milan bid to reverse history
Edin Dzeko starred in the first leg but Rafael Leao gives the Rossoneri an extra element in attack this time around
Inter vs AC Milan
Inter have won 18 of the 19 Uefa competition ties in which they have triumphed ‘away’ in the first leg.
They defeated Milan 2-0 last time out when they were designated the away team at the San Siro so will be confident of confirming their place in Istanbul for the final.
Inter vs AC Milan team changes
Simone Inzaghi names an unchanged Inter team to the one that defeated Milan 2-0 in the first leg. Most of the first team will be well rested as only Francesco Acerbi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Federico Dimarco started in Inter’s Serie A clash against Sassuolo at the weekend.
Stefano Piolo meanwhile makes three changes to the Milan side that lined up for the first leg. Simon Kjaer, Ismael Bennacer and Alexis Saelemaekers are out with Malick Thiaw, Junior Messias and Rafael Leao brought in.
Inter vs AC Milan line-ups
Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Messias, Tonali, Krunic; Giroud, Diaz, Leao
Pioli on the importance of scoring first
Milan coach, Stefano Pioli, explained how he wants his team to play this evening. He said:
“We will have to be balanced, compact, and play like a team that can beat our opponents. We know how important the first goal will be: it doesn’t matter what minute it is scored in.
“We started talking about this game on Sunday morning. We have only one chance and we must play this match with an exceptional attitude.”
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