INTER v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW
Champions League
In the darkest hour, AC Milan need hope. In the most difficult run of the season, let's rely on that light that never goes out. Inter v AC Milan, second leg of the Champions League semi-final, comes at the end of six days with very little to smile about. It is never wrong to dream: to come back from the two goal disadvantage from the first leg will not be easy, but we will give it our all on the pitch. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST at San Siro, and here is our match preview.
LATEST FROM MILANELLO
There are many questions surrounding the starting line-up for the Rossoneri with just a few hours to go before the second leg, concerning the fitness of three players: Rafael Leão, Rade Krunić and Junior Messias. The former missed both the first leg and the trip to La Spezia, worked hard to return to the squad, and has resumed training with the group since Sunday. The Bosnian and the Brazilian were the last-minute absentees in the league, and Pioli is confident they will be able to recover ahead of today's game. Ismaël Bennacer, who came off after only a few minutes in the first leg with a knee injury, will definitely be absent. A few changes in defence are possible, with Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu fighting for a place; Saelemaekers or Messias will fight for a start on the right wing.
Coach Pioli said in his press conference on the eve of the match: "We can still qualify for the final. Nobody would have predicted we'd get this far, but I know how good my players are. We have to believe in ourselves. Leão is back; himself, Rade and Junior will take part in the final training session and if everything goes as we hope, they will play."
LATEST FROM INTER
Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to opt for the same eleven he fielded in the first leg. Many of these players were rested in Saturday's win over Sassuolo: Onana, Dumfries, Barella, Çalhanoğlu and Džeko were left out, while Martínez, Darmian and Bastoni came on. Acerbi, Dimarco and Mkhitaryan started the match. The Nerazzurri are in excellent form, with six consecutive victories in all competitions, and they start as firm favourites to progress thanks to their two-goal win last Wednesday.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke in his press conference on the eve of the match: "We know we have a lead in the tie but we won't sit back and defend it. There will be times when we have to be more aggressive and others less so. We know we are up against a team that, regardless of whether Leão plays, has quality players."
WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
In Italy, AC Milan v Inter will be shown on Sky and Canale 5 at 21:00 CEST. Starting at 19:30 CEST, until kick-off, there's all the build-up on Milan TV's Matchday. After the game, we will have interviews and Stefano Pioli's post-match conference.
LATEST FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Inter v AC Milan (21:00 CEST, San Siro) will decide the first finalist of this season's Champions League; the second finalist will be decided tomorrow night at the Etihad Stadium (21:00 CEST), with Manchester City and Real Madrid facing off after the 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu.
REFEREE
Clément Turpin, from France, will be the referee for the semi-final second leg, on his 41st birthday. His assistants will be Danos and Pagès, fourth official Frappart, and VARs Brisard and Millot. Turpin is one of the most experienced international figures in refereeing, and in the last two years he has taken charge of the 2022 Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool, and the 2021 Europa League Final between Manchester United and Villarreal. Three previous games involving the Rossoneri: one draw and two defeats, the most recent being the 0-0 draw with Tottenham in the Round of 16 second leg.
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