Many football fans rejoiced when Milan rivals, AC Milan and Internazionale, were drawn in the semifinals of the Champions League. The Derby della Madonnina is one of the great football derbies in the world.
With just two games until the final, the latest Milan Derby should produce one of the best series of games between the old Italian rivals.
On Wednesday, AC Milan will host Inter in the first leg of the semifinals at the San Siro. Although the Rossoneri are designated as the home team, home-field advantage won’t play much of a role, as the two teams share the San Siro.
The Italian rivals have met three times already this season on the pitch in Serie A and the Italian Super Cup. The Rossoneri took the spoils 3-2 in September thanks to two goals from Rafael Leao and one from Olivier Giroud. Inter’s goals from Marcelo Brozovic and Edin Dzeko bookended the match.
The return fixture saw Inter win 1-0 in February thanks to a Lautaro Martinez goal. The clubs also met in the Supercoppa Italiana, with Inter coming out on top 3-0.
Milan go into the semifinal first leg unbeaten in nine straight matches in all competitions. The defence is playing well, as it kept five clean sheets during that time. The Rossoneri defeated Lazio 2-0 at home over the weekend to prepare for Inter.
Inter also won at the weekend, downing Roma in the capital 2-0. Simone Inzaghi’s team is unbeaten in six straight matches, and each of the last five fixtures ended as wins.
The Nerazzurri are also playing well defensively, posting four clean sheets in their last five fixtures.
Inter are unbeaten in seven of their last nine matches against Milan in all competitions. It is a strong record for the Nerazzurri going into the semifinal first leg.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli is without star forward Leao. The Portuguese international was key to Milan’s win in the quarterfinals against Napoli. He is a major miss for the Rossoneri.
Inzaghi could be without two players for the first leg, as defenders Danilo D’Ambrosio and Milan Skriniar are both major doubts to make the squad. The Inter coach will have the option to play Martinez, Romelu Lukaku, and Dzeko in the attack.
Wednesday’s first leg should be close and cagey with neither Milan team giving up too much. You can’t win the semifinal in the first leg, but you can lose it. The first leg between Milan and Inter should finish nil-nil.