ROSSONERI BOW OUT OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Champions League
We believed, we gave it a go but the comeback wasn't to be. The Rossoneri bow out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage at the hand of Inter, who also won the second leg, building on their lead from the first game. Lautaro Martínez's second-half goal killed off the tie as the Nerazzurri booked their spot for the final in Istanbul where they will play either Real Madrid or Manchester City. AC Milan pushed hard, especially in the first half, and created two big chances: Brahim in the tenth minute and Leão in the 38th. The Nerazzurri's defensive wall held firm as Inzaghi's men shut the Rossoneri down.
It'll undoubtedly be a tough one to digest but, for once, Euroderby history is written by our opponents. The task for the Rossoneri now is to pick themselves up so that they can finish the season strongly, though the campaign overall hasn't given us as much cause to smile as we might have hoped. We have three league games still to play: against Sampdoria, Juventus and Hellas Verona. That's nine points so we can be back competing on stages like tonight's. There's disappointment and regret but we have the strength to dust ourselves off and go again. There is no darkness, no fear, when there is a light that never goes out. Sempre forza Milan, especially today!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM INTER v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
AC Milan started off on the front foot and within five minutes Theo hit a rocket with his left from 30 metres out: Onana was fixed to the floor and could only watch it sail inches over. Inter’s reply came through Barella who found himself in space, but shot over from the edge of the box. AC Milan continued to threaten and ten minutes in Messias’ deep cross in was headed back across goal by Giroud with an open goal, after Onana scrambled to take the cross, but Darmian was there to hook it behind. A minute later, great work on the left by Tonali set up Brahim, who fired too centrally and Onana made the save. Inter started to then dominate the central areas more, winning several free-kicks but without finding the right ball. On 38 minutes, Leão first got away from Darmian, skipped past Acerbi in the area, but then dragged his shot just wide of the far post with his left. Inter went back up the other end and from Çalhanoğlu’s free-kick, Džeko’s glancing header was superbly kept out by Maignan’s feline-like reactions.
Instead, the game was much tighter after the break, with the Rossoneri having the first real chance of the half on 69 minutes when Calabria’s cross was headed down by Rafa for Messias, but it was too heavy and the ball ran through to Onana. The Nerazzurri found the goal that killed all Rossoneri hope after 74 minutes: Lukaku, on as a sub shortly before, found Lautaro in the area, who struck home powerfully past Mike at the near post with his left foot. From thereon in, Inter took control of possession and the game, closing out any attempt from the visiting side. Towards the end, referee Turpin showed several yellow cards to both sides’ players after a scuffle saw tempers spill over. There was no stoppage time and the game ended 1-0 to Inter.
MATCH DETAILS
INTER 1-0 AC MILAN
INTER (3-5-2): Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella (84' Gagliardini), Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan (43' Brozović), Dimarco (66' Gosens); Džeko (66' Lukaku), Martínez (84' Correa). Subs.: Cordaz, Handanovič; Bellanova, D'Ambrosio, de Vrij; Asllani, Stanković. Coach: Inzaghi.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw (64' Kalulu), Tomori, Hernández; Tonali, Krunić; Messias (76' Saelemaekers), Díaz (76' Origi), Leão; Giroud. Subs.: Mirante, Nava; Ballo-Touré, Florenzi, Gabbia, Kjær; Pobega; De Ketelaere, Rebić. Coach: Pioli.
Referee: Turpin (FRA).
Goal: 74' Martínez (I).
Booked: 56' Thiaw (M), 79' Tonali (M), 79' Barella (I), 81' Krunić (M), 82' Tomori (M).
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