Champions League Semi-Finals: What’s Happened So Far and What Will the Second Legs Deliver?

11.05.23 1583

As expected, the first legs of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals did not disappoint. Real Madrid and Manchester City played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, while Inter secured a 2-0 victory over Milan.

With the first legs in the books, it’s time to look back on the opening encounters, analyse the key battles and discuss what might happen when the teams renew acquaintances next week.

Nothing to Separate Real Madrid and Manchester City

Although the Milan derby attracted plenty of attention in the lead-up to the semi-finals, the heavyweight clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City was always going to be the standout tie of the round.

Man City dominated the opening exchanges at the Bernabeu, keeping the home fans quiet in the process. But when Vinicius Junior gave Los Blancos the lead via an excellent long-range strike, the Bernabeu erupted.

However, midway through the second half, Kevin De Bruyne matched Vini’s effort with a sublime strike of his own, levelling the score while setting up a winner-takes-all showdown at the Etihad Stadium next Wednesday.

That draw extended City’s unbeaten streak to 21 matches, with 17 wins and four draws coming since their last defeat. On top of that, Pep Guardiola’s men have won each of their last 15 home games in all competitions.

Regardless of Real Madrid’s 14 Champions League titles, it feels as though Man City have the upper hand heading into the second leg. With the Etihad crowd behind them, Erling Haaland and company will be confident of sealing the deal.

Inter Take Command of Milan Showdown

While the first semi-final was evenly matched, Wednesday’s clash was all about Inter. The Nerazzurri flew out the blocks and stunned their arch-rivals, while Milan failed to find a response throughout the contest.

Edin Dzeko put Inter ahead inside eight minutes, producing an expert volley from a corner. Three minutes later, Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled Inter’s lead when he broke through Milan’s backline with ease.

Inter could have found themselves 3-0 up if it weren’t for an overturned penalty decision, as the referee changed his mind following a VAR intervention, despite the fact that clear contact was made on Lautaro Martinez.

Although Milan finished the game with 58% possession, it’s fair to say that Inter dominated their old foes throughout the contest, racking up 16 shots while making the Rossoneri defenders look like statues at times.

As a result, Inter boast a healthy advantage ahead of the second leg. If Milan produce a similar performance in the second leg, Inter will cruise into their first Champions League final since 2010 without any problems.