Inter Milan have made it to their first Champions League final in 13 years after dispatching city rivals AC Milan at the San Siro.
Starting lineup
Inter: Andre Onana; Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez
Milan: Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunic; Junior Messias, Brahim Diaz, Rafael Leao; Olivier Giroud.
It was a cagey start between both sides but Inter Milan seemed to have the better of their opponents early in the game.
A dark cloud hung over the Champions League hopes of AC Milan going into this game having lost their last three games in all competitions to Inter Milan, including a first-leg Champions League defeat at the San Siro.
In the first leg, AC Milan played the role of the home team with their fans dominating the San Siro but Inter Milan were playing the role of the home team with their fans painting San Siro black this time.
AC Milan needed a 3-0 win over Inter Milan to progress to the final after suffering a first-leg 2-0 defeat.
In their last three defeats to the City rivals, Portugal international and prolific winger Raphael Leao was missing in all three games.
Leao returned to the starting lineup for the Rossoneri. Leao’s first touch of the ball resulted in a foul after he fouled Dumfries after the later won a duel against him.
Inter Milan had a good spell of possession of the ball but AC Milan gave a pretty better start than they did in the first leg.
Giroud created a golden chance that would have seen the Rossoneri took a deserved lead in the 10th minute after he perfectly rounded Onana and crossed into the box. Just a touch from Diaz would have given AC Milan the lead as the ball rolled through an open net.
Diaz failed to tap in before former Manchester United defender Darmian made a vital clearance.
A minute after, AC Milan closed in again on an opener with Tonali nearly setting up the goal when he crossed into the penalty area for Diaz to fire on goal but Onana was quick to tame the feeble strike.
AC Milan continued to dominate play but Inter Milan were equally making attempts to exploits transitions and make efforts on goal.
Raphael Leao landed on a huge chance to make it count for AC Milan in the 37th minute when he went up against Onana but his left-footed strike flew wide across goal.
In the 44th minute, Inter Milan were dealt a heavy injury blow as Mkhitaryan was substituted after he picked up an injury.
The former Manchester United player was eager to play but ended up plonking down on the turf and was subbed off for Brozovic.
The first half ended barren with both sides unable to break the goal deadlock but AC Milan were the better side.
The Rossoneri played their hearts out as they needed nothing less from a big win to stand a chance of qualifying for the final but had it tough from Inter Milan defense.
In the second half, AC Milan ramped up attempts to find their way into the game but Inter Milan resilient backline was proving difficult to penetrate.
The Nerazzuri were just less than 45 minutes from their first Champions League final in 13 years but had to fight off Rossoneri’s continued pressure.
AC Milan comeback hopes were finally dealt a devastating blow as Inter Milan bagged a late goal in the 77th minute to edge closer to the Champions League final.
Lautaro picked on Lukaku who then controlled the ball back to him before he fired pass Maignan into the near post to make it 1-0 for the Nerazzuri.
It was a lead well deserved. Despite playing second fiddle to AC Milan on possession, the Nerazzuri were more deadly and threatening on the attack.
It was a game over for AC Milan at the instance of the goal. They needed to score four to upturn the deficit with just few minutes left to play.
The match ended with Inter Milan completing a double over the Rossoneri to qualify for their first semifinal in 13 years.
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