Inter Milan Dominates Champions League Derby But Fails to Finish the Job

For AC Milan, the atmosphere was rather better than the performance. San Siro may have been boisterously noisy and passionately pro-Milan, but Stefano Pioli’s side was shambolic enough in the first half that the tie might have been ended within half an hour. As it is, a 2–0 win for Inter in what was technically its away leg leaves it the distinct favorite to progress to the Champions League final in Istanbul. However, Milan will feel it got away with it, that it could have been a lot worse.

Home advantage means less when the two sides share a stadium—there is no debilitating travel, no having to learn the idiosyncrasies of an unfamiliar venue—but support is a clear factor. Amid the chants and the flares, though, the ecstatic celebration of being on this stage for the first time in 16 years, it was AC Milan that seemed to wilt.

AC Milan’s midfield, led by Sandro Tonali, could not contain Inter’s fierce attack in the first leg.

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