Internazionale 1-0 AC Milan: Inter Milan is the first finalist in the Champions League. The team of Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij and Andre Onana won against AC Milan just like last week and is playing a final in the billion dollar ball for the first time in thirteen years.
Inter into the Champions League final for the first time since 2010
For Inter it was the first time since 2010 that it played the semi-finals of the Champions League. Wesley Sneijder was part of the team that won the treble under José Mourinho at the time. Milan was in the semi-finals of the billion dollar ball for the first time in sixteen years. In 2005, Milan and Inter met in the quarter-finals.
Milan was really outclassed by Inter last week and therefore had to make up for a 2-0 deficit. The fact that Stefano Pioli’s team had not given up yet was evident from the fiery opening phase, in which Inter goalkeeper Onana was startled several times, but always got away well.
At Milan, all eyes were on Rafael Leão, the man who was missing last week due to an injury, but was now back. The Portuguese shot in a promising position but just wide, moments later Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was barely able to prevent a goal from Inter. Milan did not score, but the opportunities created offered clues for the second half.
Second half
The second half, however, did not match the level of the first. Milan had to do something because it had not yet scored, but Inter hardly faltered. Pioli waited a remarkably long time before bringing in fresh forces, which could possibly still tilt the diptych. Since the venom was out of the sting, there was no reason to believe that it would. Not at all when Lautaro Martínez shot in the 1-0 fifteen minutes before the end. That was it for Milan, which brought newcomers into the field with Alexis Saelemaekers and Divock Origi. However, it was no longer allowed.
Inter can book the tickets to Istanbul. Late Wednesday evening it will be known who the opponent is on June 10: Manchester City or Real Madrid.
