AC Milan will face city rivals Inter in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after the Nerazzurri beat Benfica 5-3 on aggregate.
Milan got the job done in the second leg of last night’s quarter-final, drawing 1-1 with Napoli on the night to secure a 2-1 aggregate win. Rafael Leao’s solo run set up Olivier Giroud to make it 1-0 at the Maradona and 2-0 in the tie, also rendering Victor Osimhen’s goal deep into added time a mere consolation.
Inter meanwhile had a two-goal lead from the first leg after a solid performance against Benfica, with goals from Nicolo Barella, Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa enough to pad the advantage and defeat the Lisbon club.
The result is another Derby della Madonnina in the UCL knockout stages. The two teams met in 2002-03 at the semi-final stage with Milan going through on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
The quarter-final clash in 2003-05 saw the Rossoneri win 5-0 on aggregate after a 2-0 first leg win and the second leg being abandoned as Inter fans rained flares down on Dida.
The first leg will take place on 9th or 10th of May with the second leg to be played on the 16th or 17th of May.
OK then.
The players and Pioli owe the fans and they need to make up for the way they performed in the last 2 games vs Inter. Especially in the 2nd game in the league where they played like cowards, scared not to lose by a lot of goals.
Based on the way we have played vs Inter in the last 4,5 years I have more confidence that Milan can beat R Madrid or ManCity in one-off game than beating inter over 2 legs. So if Milan manage to knock out inter, they will go on to win the 8th ucl title, hopefully vs RMadrid
I agree. I’ve seen Milan lose 5-0 to Atalanta, 4-0 to La Coruña, give up 3-0 half time lead in UCL final, lose 6-1 at home vs Juventus but none of those was as embarrassing as the last loss to inter. Even though it was only 1-0 we came in scared, defended with 11 players and didn’t get out of our own half for most of the game.
Got a lot of love and respect for Pioli but he was lucky Berlusconi wasn’t Milan’s president that day. He would have fired him during the game. It’s OK to lose if you compete and try to win but totally different when you have already given up even before the game started. And that’s what Pioli and the players did that game vs Inter. Gave up days before the game started.
Inter is a bad match up for Milan and they have owned us recently especially in a 2 leg cup setting but they have many weaknesses that Milan can exploit.
And I would rather play them than Real or City. Those 2 other teams will destroy us with their experience and football IQ. But in a 1 game final anything can happen
I think it’s a bit harsh to criticize the team for that performance against Intet. It was after two crushing defeats against Sassuolo and Lazio where we were played off the park and morale was obliterated. It was our first game with a back three (five really), and our best offensive weapons were likewise limited by the change in formation, as we have seen with Leao’s uptick in form once returned to the left wing. We almost pulled out a point from that match and in a season where one point may be the difference between CL and no CL next season I think it was all in all a reasonable strategy. I would bet that no Milanese Milan fan would trade that 1-0 almost draw for a 5 goal thrashing trying to “play well” as playing well was just not possible in that moment. I would also bet that if Inter could go back in time to 2001 and choose between parking the bus to try to get a result as opposed to getting thrashed by us 6-0 they would park the bus.
You said that we didn’t play well.
There is a big difference between not playing well and coming into a game where you have accepted that you have already lost prior to the game and trying to just keep it low score.
At the end of the day losing 5-0 but trying to actually compete and losing 1-0 being scared is still worth only 1 loss and 3 points. I would absolutely take a 5-0 league loss in a game where Milan shows up to play and try to win instead of losing 1-0 and shows up hoping not to lose 5-0. This is Milan we are talking about not Cremonese. We were playing inter who were also trash, not Pep’s Barca or some super team.
Milan is a big club and should have a big club mentality in every game no matter the circumstances.
And no sir. We didn’t almost pull a draw in that game. We did nothing in that game. I would say you need to rewatch that game but i wouldn’t wish that on any Milan fan
Three words: Bring it on !
It will be tough against Inter. Somehow this year they just play good against us. However after watching them with Benfica, i can say that we have a good chance. They are strong in attack but weak in defence. Especialy without Skrinar and De Vrij who are injured. Not sure in Skrinar and De Vrij will be back in time to play against us. But if they don’t, i think we have a good chance to quickly score couple of goals and demoralize them.
We’ll CRUSH the merdi.
FORZA MILAN!!!
Yes the same way you were going to crush them in the Super cup final
This is awesome.
More than a decade in Europe’s doldrums and now a UCL semi final against Inter. San Siro will be electric.
The current form line of our best 11 is better than that of Inter, much better.
I have reservations about playing Inter because their 3 man midfield has dominated the centre of the park in the last few matches, but we seem to have overcome that against Napoli, essentially dropping the AM in the 4-2-3-1.
Forza Milan!
Thing i don’t like this Derby cos of prestige and also they are strong in midfield and forward. If only cashie still in the team but imho we must do more pressing and quicker in making goal.
So we start at home. And second leg is away??
To pessimist our there.. Remember our GK isn’t Tata anymore. This time it would be different
I too believe Istanbul is our destiny to put them ghosts to bed. Even though we won it back against Liverpool it didn’t feel like a win, more just taking a cup back we should have won. Istanbul against real would be the pinnacle. I believe they have a lot of luck with the last 5 cups and I can’t believe Milan weren’t there to stop them. This cup is ours. Then I’ll retire from watching and get on with my life.
AC Milan will beat Inter home and away. I believe AC Milan is destined to go to Istanbul and win their 8 UCL trophy. ❤️🖤
How many tickets will be on sale for AC Milan on the 2nd leg match? Is it going to be 5-10% or more?
The last thing that i want is us losing to merda and hopefully we face madrid than sh*tty in the final, i would rather see carletto lift the trophy in case we failed in the final.