The Milanese clash in the Champions League semi-final seemed to be will take place in the format of a game of peepers. The one who blinks first and makes a mistake will give in. After all, opponents defend better than they carry out positional attacks. That is why the first goal was of the utmost importance.
The players understood everything and acted according to the plan in the first minutes. Little ball control and risky moves, a lot of struggle. Teams destroyed more than they created. However, «Milan» blinked.
Summed wards Stefano Pioli set pieces. «Milan» in the current season scores very little after corners and free kicks, and concede from them at the level of outsiders. Inter are one of the best teams in Italy in terms of attacking standards.
The captain of the hosts, Davide Calabria, lost the fight to Eden Dzeko in front of the gate. The goal shocked not only the fans. The Milan players themselves seemed to have initially tuned in to an exhausting fight with zeros on the scoreboard and were very surprised at the sudden leadership of the opponent.
And while they were recovering, Inter scored again. In a quick attack, taking advantage of a hole in the center of the home defense. Henrikh Mkhitaryan excelled, bursting into the penalty area from the depths and easily outplaying the goalkeeper.
Two goals in 10 minutes sounded like a sentence. It only got worse from there. AC Milan attacking midfielder Ismael Bennacer has been injured. «Inter» continued to attack sweepingly and was close to the third goal. It could happen at the end of half an hour of the game. Lautaro Martinez fell in the penalty area, and the referee even pointed to the “point”. Fortunately, after watching the video replay, the referee overturned the decision.
UEFA Champions League10 May 2023 • start at 22:00Closed
MilanItaly0 : 2< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/055d198b3c846a01ec385088fcc2d753.png" />Inter Mitalia
08' • Edin Dzeko (Hakan Calhanoglu)
11’ • Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Federico Dimarco)
However, even without the «control shot» the outcome seems obvious. «Milan» eventually came to his senses and leveled the game, although he did not show, due to which he is able to win back two goals. Olivier Giroud fought well in front, but did not receive the support of partners. Theo Hernandez was too far from the line of attack, and Pioli's wards did not manage to make any coherent teamwork.
Braim Diaz was seen as the only bright spot against the background of partners. The midfielder tried to create chances through individual actions. Unfortunately, efforts got stuck in power football, due to which “Inter” tightly locked the penalty area. The guests' players actively went to martial arts, took them with aggression and an advantage in size.
Milan did not find the resources to keep the intrigue. Only a miracle can save the team in the second leg. His name is Rafael Leao. The Brazilian star of the «red-blacks» missed the first match due to injury. The hosts really lacked him to create something dangerous at the gates of Inter.
If anyone is capable of resurrecting an almost dead Milan, it is Leao. The club's doctors need to do everything possible to get the striker back in line for the second leg. Otherwise, «Inter» can now book tickets to Istanbul for the Champions League final.