Serie A seems to be experiencing a revival of its glory days. José Mourinho’s Roma has reached the Europa League final, just a year after winning the Conference League.
Fiorentina has made it to the Conference League semi-finals as well. Additionally, one of the Milan clubs will compete in the Champions League final, marking Italy’s return to the pinnacle of European club football after a six-year absence since Juventus’ loss to Real Madrid in 2016-17.
AC Milan and Inter Milan have both made remarkable progress in the Champions League. AC Milan is in their first semi-final since 2006-07, while Inter has reached this stage for the third time. Milan’s previous two semi-finals saw them bounce back from first-leg defeats to reach the final. The Milan derby in the Champions League has taken place four times, with Milan undefeated so far.
Defensive strength has been a key factor in their success. Milan has conceded only one goal in their last six matches, while Inter has kept a clean sheet in six out of ten Champions League games this season. Both teams have displayed resilience at the back, making them formidable opponents.
The upcoming clash between Milan and Inter promises excitement, as their recent encounters have been closely contested. The resurgence of Italian teams in European competitions suggests that Serie A is reclaiming its prominent status on the continent.
LAST MEETING
Inter 1-0 Milan: 5 February 2023 (Serie A)
In the 2022-23 season, Milan and Inter have already faced each other three times across various competitions. This match marked their third encounter. In the first half, Inter dominated the game, and Lautaro Martínez came close to scoring on two occasions.
Eventually, Martínez broke the deadlock just after the 30-minute mark, scoring a header from a Hakan Calhanoglu corner, beating Milan’s goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu. Milan struggled to cope with Calhanoglu’s well-delivered in-swinging crosses, which could be a crucial aspect to watch in the game.
However, Martínez’s late goal was disallowed by VAR due to an offside decision.
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Milan had a minimal impact on the match, registering only four shots and generating a meager 0.32 expected goals, their lowest in a Serie A game this season.
RECENT FORM
Since advancing past Benfica in the quarter-finals, Inter Milan has displayed exceptional form. They have won five consecutive matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one. Their impressive run includes a 1-0 triumph over Juventus in the Coppa Italia and a 2-0 away victory against Roma as they pursue a top-four finish in Serie A under the guidance of Inzaghi.
AC Milan, on the other hand, has remained unbeaten since their 4-0 victory over Napoli in early April. They extended their unbeaten streak with a draw against Lazio over the weekend. Although Milan hasn’t been scoring goals prolifically, with only eight goals in their last seven matches since facing Napoli, they have proven to be a resilient team. Their UCL quarter-final victory over Napoli showcased their determination.
In the previous round, Milan secured a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate win against Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16. After winning the first leg 1-0 at the San Siro through a Brahim Díaz goal, they held Tottenham to a goalless draw in London to progress to the quarter-finals. In the group stage, Milan finished second in Group E, behind Chelsea but ahead of RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb.
Inter Milan advanced from the UCL group stages by finishing second in Group C, trailing behind Bayern Munich but ahead of Barcelona and Viktoria Plzeň. They then eliminated Porto in the round of 16 and overcame Benfica in the previous round to reach their current stage in the competition.
KEY PLAYERS
AC Milan – Olivier Giroud
Milan’s key player in the Champions League campaign is Olivier Giroud. The French striker has consistently delivered for his team. Despite missing an early penalty in the second leg against Napoli, Giroud redeemed himself by scoring a goal 20 minutes later, putting Milan in the lead on the night.
This goal marked his fifth in the competition this season, and he has also contributed two assists. With a total of seven involvements in Champions League goals, Giroud has been the most influential Milan player in the competition. This season’s performance represents his best return in a single Champions League campaign.
The last Milan player to have a higher involvement in goals was Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 2011-12 season, with nine contributions.
Inter Milan – Romelu Lukaku
Inter’s key player in the Champions League campaign is Romelu Lukaku. While he has had a relatively quiet season in 2022-23, there are signs that he is finding his form at the right moment. Lukaku has scored six goals in Serie A this season, with three of them coming in his last four matches. Additionally, he has provided three assists during that period.
Lukaku’s prowess on the biggest European stage is undeniable. He has an impressive record of scoring 21 goals in 28 appearances in the knockout rounds of major European competitions.
Furthermore, Lukaku has shown great efficiency from the penalty spot, including converting one in the previous round against Benfica. His contributions will be crucial for Inter as they progress further in the Champions League.
PREDICTION
The Opta supercomputer predicts this one to be a very close affair, with Inter (39.2%) just shading it on the night. Milan at 31.7% aren’t too far behind, while the draw is rated at 29.1%.
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