The San Siro comes alive once again as AC Milan play Inter Milan in the Derby Della Madonnina which takes center stage in the Semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.
Both historic teams are eyeing a place in the final of the UEFA Champions League and they would have to do it on their iconic ground.
AC Milan defeated Napoli by 2-1 on aggregate to book a place in the Semi-final of the UEFA Champions League while Inter Milan came out victorious 5-3 against Benfica.
The Derby Della Madonnina has been witnessed three times this season already with the Rossoneri and the Nerazzurri recording one league victory apiece in the Serie A.
AC Milan were 3-2 victors back in September, while the Nerazzurri won 1-0 in February, Inter Milan also came out victorious in the Supercoppa Italiana played in January by 3-0.
Any side termed as the home side would look odd as both sides share the same stadium presently, the 80,018 capacity San Siro which is the largest football stadium in Italy.
The 7-time winners of the UEFA Champions League have never lost against Inter Milan in the competition’s history.
Both sides have met four times previously with AC Milan winning two and sharing the spoils with their opposition on Wednesday night in the other two.
They previously met in the Semi-final of the UEFA Champions League in 2002-03, with Milan going through to the final on away goals (1-1 on aggregate).
The city of Milan which houses these two powerhouses last hosted the UEFA Champions League final in 2016 with Real Madrid defeating Atletico Madrid in the final.
AC Milan lifted the 2021/22 Italian Serie A title deposing Inter Milan who won it a season before and both teams go into this game off the back of victories in the Italian top-flight.
The Rossoneri defeated Lazio by 2-0 while neighbors Inter Milan beat AS Roma by 2-0 as well.
Both teams can’t win the Serie A due to the fact that Napoli have already won it but Inter have the Copa Italia to chase and the Champions League.
For AC Milan, they have only the UEFA Champions League remaining for a chance to win any silverware.
Team News For AC Milan.
Olivier Giroud, Theo Hernandez and Sandro Tonali are all expected to feature in the game against Inter Milan.
However, Rafael Leao’s fitness for this game is uncertain as he was withdrawn early on in the first half of the 2-0 win against Lazio due to a muscular injury.
Tommaso Pobega and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would definitely not be available for this game due to injury, although Ibrahimovic is not registered for the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League.
Team News for Inter Milan
Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are expected to return back to action for this game after being left on the bench in their win against Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Simone Inzaghi could be eyeing the prospect of seeing the Lukaku-Lautaro partnership with the partnership being fruitful in recent weeks.
Milan Skriniar and Robin Gosens would play no part in the game due to injury, but Danilo D’Ambrosio could make a comeback to the team after overcoming a muscular issue.
AC Milan probable starting lineup:
Maignan, Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic, Diaz, Bennacer, Saelemaekers and Giroud
Inter Milan probable starting lineup:
Onana, Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Martinez and Lukaku
Prediction:
We envisage that this game would be a tight affair between both sides and as such not much goals is expected to be scored in this game.
So we say AC Milan 1-1 Inter Milan or a slim win for Inter Milan.
