“Inter Milan Clinches 2-0 Win in Derby della Madonnina Semi-Final First Leg”

After a 2-0 (2-0) win in the semi-final first leg of the “Derby della Madonnina”, Inter Milan is on course for its sixth final in the Champions League. The Black and Blues defeated city rivals AC Milan on Wednesday after a furious start with two quick goals at a packed San Siro. The second leg of the Milan city showdown will take place next Tuesday. Inter played and won their last final in 2010.

Edin Džeko put the “Nerazzurri” ahead with a magnificent volley in the 8th minute. After Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s second Inter goal in the 11th minute, the big false start for the red-blacks was sealed. After a first half that was also sleepy afterwards, coach Stefano Pioli’s team came up briefly after the change of sides, but bit their teeth against the collectively strong opponent.

After just a few minutes, the game at the San Siro had started with a bang. Džeko hammered a corner ball from the left into the right corner with an almost seamless volley. Just three minutes later, Mkhitaryan cleverly exploited a gap in the center to make it 2-0. As a result, Milan was visibly in shock. Hakan Calhanoğlu (16′) thundered the ball to the bar shortly afterwards, Mkhitaryan missed Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the same action.

Even after that, the nominal away team held the reins firmly in their hands and stayed on the trigger. Milan, on the other hand, did not play offensively, seemed hesitant and sleepy. Only in the 30th minute did Davide Calabria hit the side netting in an attack down the right flank. The “Rossoneri” were also lucky that after an “on-field review” referee Jesús Manzano did not award a penalty when world champion Lautaro Martínez fell in the penalty area.

Both teams could have scored early in the second half. Brahim Diaz (49′) created Milan’s best chance to date with a long-range effort, while Junior Messias (51′) missed another opportunity for the current fifth in Serie A. At the other end, Džeko (53′) found his in Maignan Master. Milan director Sandro Tonali (63rd) hit the left outside bar. After that, the vortex of attack died down a bit.

The Pioli squad was not able to build up constant pressure in the final phase, which it probably would have needed. Symbolic was Tommaso Pobega’s too central conclusion in the 92nd minute. Milan therefore goes into the return match with a 0:2 mortgage. Of course, the duel is far from decided – just like the second Champions League semi-final is still open. Real Madrid and Manchester City drew 1-1 in Madrid on Tuesday.