Champions League: Inter take a nice option against AC Milan

It is called "La Scala del Calcio", "the theater of football". And the performance offered this Wednesday night at the San Siro stadium turned into a demonstration. Even, at times, humiliation. Inter Milan dominated their great rival AC Milan in unprecedented proportions in the first half before managing the score in the second (2-0). Before the return match on May 16, Simone Inzaghi's men have taken a big step towards the final of the Champions League, where they could meet the winner of the return match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, who left back to back Tuesday night at Santiago Bernabeu (1-1).

The match: Inter all fire all flame

Some may have feared a closed match, padlocked by the stakes and pressure of a semi-final first leg in the context of a Milan derby. The opposite has happened and we owe it largely to the attacking appetite of the Inter players. Or the Rossoneri's defensive largesse, it depends.

For 30 minutes, there was only one team on the field and it played in black and blue. The Nerazzurri almost killed the suspense in eleven minutes, the time to lead 2 goals to 0 on achievements of Dzeko, on a corner perfectly shot by Calhanoglu (8th), and Mkhitaryan of a clear strike leaving no chance to a poor Mike Maignan, totally abandoned by his rearguard (11th).

Read alsoWelcome to San Siro, the stadium of the enemy brothers of AC Milan and Inter

Maignan, fortunately for the Rossoneri, was then saved by his left post on a mule strike from Çalhanoglu, then made a knee stop on Mkhitaryan's recovery that left his team alive. But on a ventilator. Indeed, in the 32nd minute, a foul by former Lille Simon Kjaer in the box on Martinez prompted the referee to designate the penalty point. Before VAR judged him and offered a respite to the teammates of a helpless Olivier Giroud on the front of the attack.

4- Inter is only the 4th team to lead by 2 goals after 11 minutes in a Champions League semi-final, after Juventus against Man Utd in April 1999, Man Utd against Arsenal in May 2009, and Man City against Real Madrid in April 2022. Lightning. pic.twitter.com/QKeYiGE3Gs

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 10, 2023

At the resumption, AC Milan was a little emboldened with a beautiful strike from Brahim Diaz from just outside the goals of Onana (49th), followed by a missed attempt by Junior Messias (51st). But, once again, it was Inter who created the best opportunity by the inevitable Dzeko, who stumbled on Mike Maignan (53rd). Tonali then found the outside of Onana's post on a strike at the entrance of the box (63rd). Stefano Pioli's men will have to show something else in six days.

The player: Mike Maignan preserves a little suspense

If AC Milan retains a slim hope of qualifying for the Champions League final, it owes it largely to Mike Maignan. The new goalkeeper of the Blues confirmed on this clash at the top his status as a world-class goalkeeper. Of the two goals conceded, he can't do much but he made two outstanding saves against Mkhitaryan with his knee and Dzeko with his leg to keep his team alive. Also reassuring about his outings and authoritarian in his communication. Given his state of form and his excellence in the exercise, we would almost regret that the penalty whistled against Kjaer was cancelled out in the first half, we would have liked to see him in action.

The number: 11

Proof of their undivided dominance in the first act, Inter shot eleven times on goal in the first half, including three times by framing Mike Maignan's goal. Conversely, in the first 45 minutes, AC Milan fired only 5 times without framing a single strike.