5 talkings points as Inter dominate AC Milan in Champions League semi-final win

10 May 2023 , 20:56

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Inter saw-off AC Milan 2-0 (Image: Mattia Ozbot - Inter/Inter via Getty Images)

Inter have one foot in the Champions League final after dominating the first leg of their Milan derby semi and winning 2-0.

Goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan inside 11 minutes got Inter off to a rip-roaring start, stunning rivals AC Milan and everyone inside the San Siro. Before Stefano Pioli 's side got their bearings, Inter were awarded a penalty which was overturned by referee Jesus Gil after a VAR check in controversial circumstances.

Expert game management from Simone Inzaghi 's men in second half saw them come away with a deserved 2-0 victory. Milan, meanwhile, managed just a single shot on target in a summary of their all-round dismal display.

Here are five talking points from a raucous San Siro.

1. Lacking Leao

After weeks of anticipation, the city of Milan was a cauldron of bubbling excitement throughout the day as both sets of fans relished the biggest game Italian football has seen for years. But 90 minutes before kick-off, AC Milan's supporters were somewhat sobered by the absence of one name on their team sheet: Rafael Leao.

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The Portuguese forward, Serie A's player of the season last term as he fired Stefano Piolo and co to the title, had inspired Milan past newly-crowned champions Napoli in the quarter-finals, best shown by his magnificent assist in the second leg. But Leao picked up a thigh injury just 11 minutes into Saturday's clash with Lazio, ruling him out of this first leg altogether, despite training on Tuesday.

Pivotal to Pioli's attack, the 23-year-old is valued around £100million and linked with a few fellow European giants for good reason. He was supposed to be the man to the thorn in Inter's side - as he had been back in September, with two goals and an assist in a 3-2 win. But Leao's omission from the front line was the least Milan had to worry about after a nightmare opening 18 minutes.

Rafael Leao was injured and had to watch from the stands alongside stars like Novak Djokovic (Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images)

2. Fine wines of Milan

Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan - remember those guys, Premier League fans? Well, they've still absolutely got it. As the away side on the night - still backed by 7,000 'visiting' fans - Inter gave them the early bragging rights.

Within eight minutes, Simeone Inzaghi's men had the lead after former Manchester City striker Dzeko - at 37 years of age - powered home a superbly-taken volley from a Hakan Calhanoglu corner, holding off marker Davide Calabria with ease. Before Milan could reset, it was 2-0, as ex- Manchester United midfielder Mkhitaryan, 34, blasted an emphatic strike past Mike Maignan thanks to good work from Federico Dimarco, chipping in with his fifth assist of the Champions League campaign.

Edin Dzeko's excellent volley put Inter 1-0 up after just eight minutes (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

The San Siro was stunned, as were the millions watching at home. The very best of Inter was on show, with sharp attacking interplay - typified by the vibrant Lautaro Martinez - besting Milan all ends up, and it was all too much for Ismael Bennacer. Formerly of Arsenal, the Algerian midfielder had to go off after beginning to limp soon after Inter's second goal.

Between Bennacer first signalling to the bench and going off for the more attack-minded Junior Messias, Calhanoglu rattled the post with a cracking strike from the long range, as Nicolo Barrella and Mkhitaryan each had a crack on the rebound. It was the most electric start to a Champions League semi-final first leg in recent memory - and it only got more dramatic.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled Inter's lead shortly after (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

3. Pioli's VAR reprieve

While Milan began to get somewhat of a foothold as the barnstorming first half went on, Inter were still dangerous and went in for the kill shortly after Calabria came closest to pulling a goal back. Martinez found himself into the box with Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori scrambling to recover, and the Argentine forward went tumbling down after Kjaer appeared to pull his shirt.

Penalty, referee Jesus Gil said, giving Inter a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 and perhaps end the tie there and then. VAR, though said otherwise. Replays showed that there was minimal contact on Martinez and after Gil checked the pitch-side monitor, he overturned his original decision, rescinding Kjaer's yellow card to relief of Piolo, his players and every Milan fan.

On punditry duty for BT Sport, Rio Ferdinand was stunned by the revised decision, claiming that it was a "stonewall" penalty. Pat Nevin disagreed, however, telling BBC 5Live : "He absolutely tried to con the referee. He felt a hand on his waist and threw himself down. I am delighted the referee changed his mind."

Referee Jesus Gil overturned his penalty decision (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

4. Record-breaking setting

Although there was enough drama on the pitch to feast on, we'd be remiss not to mention the incredible atmosphere at the still-standing San Siro. Set to be demolished in 2027 for a new stadium to take its place, reports from Italy claim that it could've been filled 26 times over tonight, such were the demands for tickets.

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The noise - whether it be impassioned chants from supporters or deafening fireworks - began two hours before kick-off and never relented. 75,532 fans were packed inside and it was a true sight to behold for those fortunate to be the San Siro.

Maybe we won't find the iconic image which the 2005 semi-finals offered - where Marco Materazzi shares a moment with rival Rui Costa looking into the smoke - but take nothing away from this night in 2023. Luckily enough, we get to do it all again next Tuesday.

The jam-packed San Siro was a true cauldron (Diego Puletto - AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images)

Have your say! Who'll go through - AC Milan or Inter? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

5. Inter's one foot in the final

Inter are the last Italian side to win a Champions League crown and after 13 rollercoaster years, the Nerazzurri are now within touching distance of their first final since that memorable 2010 triumph under Jose Mourinho. While they certainly won't be favourites against either Man City or Real Madrid, Inzaghi's team showed that they're no mugs, despite their fourth-place standing in Serie A.

For Milan, the looked like a side 20 points off Inter in the league table and not two. It's not quite a miracle that they need, but Pioli and co must look to the sky for something ahead of round two.

Nathan Ridley