Inter Milan made significant progress towards their first Champions League final since 2010, triumphing over city rivals AC Milan 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final at San Siro on Wednesday.
Inter took control early in the game, with quickfire goals from Edin Džeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan giving them the upper hand. The teams will meet again in the second leg on Tuesday to decide who will battle it with, either Real Madrid or Manchester City, for the trophy.
AC Milan, playing without their key forward Rafael Leão due to an injury, found it difficult to counteract Inter’s early aggression. However, Džeko broke the deadlock in the eighth minute, outmaneuvering Davide Calabria to convert Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s corner kick into a goal.
Soon after, Mkhitaryan increased the lead, skillfully chipping the ball over Mike Maignan after receiving a brilliant pass from Federico Dimarco.
Milan couldn’t match Inter’s high-energy gameplay despite only allowing one goal in their last six Champions League games. Çalhanoğlu nearly extended the lead to 3-0 in the 13th minute, but his long-range shot hit the post.
Milan attempted a comeback in the 63rd minute, but Sandro Tonali’s effort rebounded off the post.
Even in defeat, Milan’s manager Stefano Pioli remained optimistic, stating, “It’s not over yet. We must approach the second leg believing we can reverse the situation.” His counterpart at Inter, Antonio Conte, praised his team’s performance but cautioned, “We showcased a stellar performance, but we understand the tie isn’t over. The second leg requires the same focus and determination level.”
The match, known as the “Euroderby” in Italy, was held in a fully-packed San Siro, with fans from both sides contributing to the electrifying ambiance.
The second leg is poised to be equally thrilling as Milan strives to bounce back and keep their final hopes afloat.
