Right, that’s me done. Thanks for reading and for your emails and tweets. Congratulations to Internazionale. Say that five times fast.
Good night!
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Milan director Paolo Maldini has been talking into a microphone after tonight’s game.
The season is not over, as we must try to qualify in the top four in Serie A and we’ll see what happens to Juventus,” Maldini told Sport Mediaset. “Reaching the semi-final was a great achievement and unexpected, but naturally if you lose against Inter then it will make this seem more painful than it otherwise would’ve been. We must remember this journey was totally unexpected.
“In the last four games there really wasn’t much of a challenge. This game was better, but compromised by the bad performance in the first half. Perhaps the way Inter play causes us problems, but in recent weeks we have been struggling against teams that are frankly less prestigious and strong.
“I would say eight [out of 10 for the season]. As we said last season, we are not yet built to handle two tournaments. We said that to the media, but also to the club owners, so they know that full well. This journey stated four years ago, which took great results, both economic and sporting, built a young foundation to the squad and there are roughly three years difference in the average age of our squad to Inter’s and that lack of experience tells at this level.
“You are never satisfied at Milan, that is not allowed. I think there are opportunities to take, so reaching the Champions League semi-final is something we must make the most of economically too, so invest to finish in the top four and hope to repeat this journey again.”
Maldini did have some good news over Leao’s contract.
We are truly just down to the smallest details, it will certainly be done, that is for sure.”
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How many people even believed Inter would even make it to the knockouts after they were drawn with Bayern and Barcelona? Extraordinary work by Inzaghi and this group of players.
— Nicky Bandini (@NickyBandini) May 16, 2023
Jonathan's Liew's match report has landed
A lot of chatter about Inter having no hope against Real or City in the final. I’m not sure that’s true. I can imagine them nicking an early goal through a set piece and digging out a sneaky 1-0 win. It’s a big ask, unlikely but no impossible. Inter are very comfortable in a low block and have some clinical finishers in their side.
Save for one moment in the first half where a low shot narrowly flew past the far post, Leao was a passenger tonight. In hindsight, I think it’s clear that he wasn’t 100% fit. But Pioli had to roll the dice, and we should give a lot of credit to Inter for their shape. Dumfries can empty his pockets now.
Inter’s Curva Nord unfurls banner: “We’re going to Istanbul you shits.” Merde spelt in red and black pic.twitter.com/lHEYjVhAw4
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) May 16, 2023
Back in Blighty, Luton Town are going to Wembley and could be a Premier League club before the month is up.
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Scenes in the stands as the Inter fans go absolutely potty at full-time. Dzeko, 37, is hopping about excitedly like a little boy. Martinez smiles wryly as he takes in the accolades. Giroud and Leao look bereft, as the Milan players applaud those in red high up in on the terraces. There will be another inquest after this. Chasing the game, Milan failed to have a shot on target in the second half.
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Full-time: Internazionale 1-0 Milan (3-0 agg)
Internazionale are into the Champions League final! Very well deserved over the two legs.
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90 min: Three more minutes of this. Inter’s fans are doing the ‘olés’.
89 min: “While I doubt that either Ancelotti or Guardiola will take a Champions League final for granted, Inter’s danger is widely underestimated”, emails Kári Tulinius. “They have such a varied array of attackers, that even if Inzaghi doesn’t get the frontline right from the get-go, he can radically change his team’s offence. And they’re unlikely to ship a bucketload of goals.”
I will say that Inter are unorthodox, and have quality in the right areas. But I can’t see them beating Real or City. But that’s why we love football, there are lots of different ways to win. The same just isn’t true for so many other sports.
87 min: The game is petering out. Onana is picking his toenails in the Inter goal. Milan’s subs have offered no change to a turgid second-half display.
85 min: Milan fans, would you want to sign Brahim Diaz on a permanent deal?
83 min: “One more fact that shows how the Italian school of football is anything but dead,” emails Giovanni Cafagna. Three out of four managers in the CL semi finals are Italians (plus the manager of the European champions). It can be argued as much as you like that Italian teams have not been successful in CL for a long while but Italian football is not about the teams, it’s about the managers and the philosophy and tactical knowledge and the winning mentality they are able to impose on teams made of international players.”
80 min: Inter make further changes. Martinez is withdrawn to a thunderous clamour, with Correa coming on in his place. That’s clever again from Inzaghi, who can’t afford to lose the booked Martinez to a suspension in the final. Gagliardini also comes on for Barella, who was also cautioned.
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78 min: Krunic, who has been chasing shadows all night, is booked for a poor challenge on Calhanoglu in midfield. Some handbags ensue, with (I think) Tomori and Martinez also receiving yellow cards.
Saelemaekers comes on for Messias, and Origi – the eternal sub – replaces Diaz.
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76 min: Martinez nearly makes it 2-0 on the night! He is again given too much space, this time on the edge of Milan’s box, and the Argentinian tries an audacious lob – a la Totti against Inter in 2005 – but Maignan is just tall enough to palm it behind. An inch or two away from being a spectacular goal.
GOAL! Internazionale 1-0 Milan (Martinez 73, 3-0 agg)
That’s the killer blow, surely! Martinez plays a one-two with Lukaku in Milan’s penalty box, gets goalside of Kalulu, and fires his shot low, hard and true past Maignan at his near post. Awful defending from Milan, who let Inter’s strikers take far too many touches, and also not the best goalkeeping. Maignan has kept Milan alive in this tie, but he’ll be disappointed with that. Inter’s fans, meanwhile … well you know the rest.
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72 min: An email from Tim Smith.
“I have been waiting for Milan’s Messias to go scything through someone in midfield, picking up a yellow card, just so we can all say: “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.” Has to happen.”
70 min: This is pretty uninspiring stuff. Diaz is too deep. Neither Messias or Leao are offering much out wide, and so Calabria and Hernandez are throwing hopeful balls towards Giroud, who is swamped by the three Inter centre backs.
67 min: Leao is having no joy on the left flank, so switches to the right. He stands up Acerbi, but the Portuguese’s cross is blocked, with the ball bouncing back off him for an Inter goal kick. The home fans cheer it like a goal.
65 min: Inter respond with a couple of changes of their own. Lukaku comes on for Dzeko, and Gosens replaces Dimarco. Good changes from Inzaghi, I think.
63 min: Thiaw comes off. The Milan man was on a yellow, so seems like a sensible decision. On comes Kalulu.
61 min: Thiaw looks like he’s pulled up with cramp, with Kjaer and Kalulu primed. But the German looks like he’s going to continue. A break in play, and Inter’s fans are celebrating in the stands like they have already won. Milan have offered very nothing in this second half.
59 min: I can’t imagine Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti watching this and quaking in their slippers.
57 min: The game is spluttering along. No fluency here, with plenty of fouls. Inter will be very happy, as things stand.
54 min: Our first booking of the second leg, and it’s been coming. Thiaw is booking for hauling Martinez down on the half-way line, after a neat turn from the Inter striker. Martinez is bullying the Milan back four, by the way. He’s winning every 50-50, chasing every ball. A menace.
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52 min: Play stops for an off-the-ball incident. Replays show Acerbi clearly stamping on the toes of Calabria as the players wait for a cross to come in. It’s deliberate, pre-meditated and a certain yellow card, but VAR fails to intervene! How utterly bizarre. Acerbi gets away with one.
51 min: Inter win a free-kick. Calhanoglu throwing himself to the turf after the faintest of shoves from Messias. It’s a bit embarrassing.
49 min: Brahim Diaz just can’t get a kick.
47 min: One of Milan’s many problems here is that they don’t have a strong bench to change things if we get to the hour mark without a goal. De Ketelaere has not impressed since his big move from Club Brugge, while Saelemaekers has flickered with talent, but not shown a consistent end product. Inter, meanwhile, have already brought Brozovic off the bench, and have Lukaku, Gosens and Correa to call on, among others.
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Peeeeeeeeeeep! And we’re off again for the second half.
Meanwhile, Luton are 45 minutes away from reaching the Championship playoff final at Wembley. They have gone 2-0 up against Sunderland in the second leg to lead the tie 3-2.
Half-time reading:
Half-time: Internazionale 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
A good half of football.
47 min: Inter seem content to see the half out, and look comfortable in their compact defensive shape. Milan’s best idea seems to be hopeful balls towards Giroud, in the hope that they pick up the scraps. Hmmm.
45 min: Three minutes added on here. Both teams are going to ground far too easily, trying to con the referee. It doesn’t make for pleasant viewing.
43 min: Mkhitaryan is going to have to come off. The Inter man has picked up a knock and is replaced by Brozovic. Not a bad replacement to have. Some might even say an upgrade, although Mkhitaryan played very well in the first leg, getting that second goal.
42 min: Some nice detail from Ian Darke, BT Sport commentator. Dimarco was in the Inter crowd 20 years ago to watch the Champions League semi-final between these two.
40 min: Inter come roaring back, and they are unlucky to not take the lead themselves. What a second leg this is! Calhanoglu whips a free-kick into the box with customary pace, and Dzeko wins the flick. Maignan sticks out a right hand and makes a point-blank save, with Thiaw booting the rebound away! What a blinding stop.
37 min: Chance for Leao! The Milan winger gets the better of Darmian, glides past Acerbi, but drags his left-footed shot wide, the ball just curling past the far post. The first real glimpse of Milan’s talisman. When he gets going, nobody can stop him.
35 min: Milan throw an inswinging cross into the box, that will happen with their inverted wingers, but Darmian and Acerbi marshall Giroud well, and get the danger away.
33 min: “I believe a large part of the reason Milan didn’t challenge for the title well this year is because Maignan was out injured for a large part of the season,” emails Justin Madson. “There’s other reasons, of course, but you cannot underestimate how important he is to this defence. Will be nice to see him get some international time as well - Lloris retiring has opened the door to showcase his talent. Waiting to see if he gets poached or, like Leao, commits to Milan.”
Completely agree. If he’s not already the best in the world (Courtois and Ter Stegen might have something to say), he’s definitely in the conversation.
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30 min: Hernandez catches Dumfries with a high boot as their feud re-ignites. Free-kick to Inter, but Hernandez was unlucky in truth, as Dumfries dived low with his head to win the ball. The home fans are calling for a booking, but the French referee is unmoved.
28 min: Never before have a seen a slower side try and play on the counter-attack. Inter are making it work, though.
26 min: “A Milan matchup wouldn’t be complete without comments on the fashion on show,” emails Peter Oh. “Inter’s classic sponsorless shirts give the Nerazzurri a clear edge. As for the managers’ threads, both gaffers have opted for sharp black suits but Inzaghi’s choice of button-sized badges on his sleeves is questionable. Advantage Pioli.”
The suit is a bit Libertines. Inzaghi is Carl Barat if he never found the gear.
24 min: Tonali brings Martinez to the deck on a dangerous Inter counter-attack. A minute later, a nasty challenge on Dimarco, from Calabria. Things are getting tasty.
22 min: Giroud is clutching his leg, worryingly. Seems like he stretched a bit too far in trying to close down Bastoni. Looks like he’s going to be OK to continue.
19 min: Milan need an early goal, or a first-half one at least. Inter’s experience will see this game out easily enough if there’s a two-goal cushion.
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16 min: Diaz is very talented, capable of brilliant moments (see his performance against Napoli a month ago) but the Spaniard is currently being roughed up by Inter’s midfield, just as he was in the first leg. Needs to move the ball quicker, because at 5ft6in, he’s not going to win the physical battle.
14 min: Inter respond, with Dzeko sprinting in behind (!). The ball arrives at Barella, who rasps a fierce shot goalwards, but Maignan is equal to it. One of the world’s best stoppers, IMO.
12 min: Golden chance for Milan! Squandered by Diaz! Crikey, it should be 1-0, 2-1 on aggregate. Tonali bursts past Mkhitaryan and gets to the byline, cuts the ball back. There are three Milan players waiting, but Diaz takes a first-time shot from the penalty spot with his weaker right foot, and the ball dribbles gently into the arms of Onana, who did well to read the intentions of Milan’s No 10. Diaz should have buried it. Giroud has his head in his hands.
10 min: Milan, though, have settled. Diaz and Messias make some probing runs and a cross towards Giroud has Onana flapping at the back post. Only a header behind from Darmian stops Tonali from heading into an empty net!
7min: A good start to this game. Inter have made the better of it. First Dumfries picks the pocket of Leão, then Barella finds some space on the edge of Inter’s box but his shot is high and wide.
5 min: Oh my. Hernandez has nearly ripped one in the top corner from about 40 yards out. The Milan left back lets fly, and the ball swerves wildly to Onana’s right before just disappearing over the bar. The Inter keeper was nowhere there.
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3 min: Barella beats Tonali to a ball at the back post, nods back towards Dzeko, who wallops a volley straight at Maignan. A warning shot, even if Barella was actually (harshly) penalised for that aerial duel with Tonali.
2 min: Dumfries and Hernández had a decent tussle in the first leg, and the collide – sort of – down Inter’s right flank, with the Milan man hitting the deck as he chases a ball back to his own byline. A free-kick is awarded. Soft.
We're off!
Peeeeeeeeeeeeep!
“Do you think Dumfries is known as Queen of the South to his mates?” emails Richard Hirst.
Catchy.
Here come the players, for real this time. I’m am absolutely buzzing for this one. THE CHAMPIONNNNNNS!!!!!!!
There’s another footy match going on tonight. Is it as important as this one? I couldn’t possibly comment.
In Inter’s 3-5-2 system, the most important players are their wing backs, Dumfries and Di Marco. Too far forward, and the three centre backs can become easily exposed. Too far back, and Martinez and Dzeko will become too exposed. Neither forward is blessed with pace, but can be deadly when crosses come into the box. Dumfries and Di Marco will help supply the ammunition to put this tie to bed.
An email!
“The last two World Cups have been the poorer for the absence of Italy,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “Say what you want about the dark arts, their defensive tendencies (though Euro 2020 surely dispelled that to the hysteria books once and for all), and the pasta doubts of Alex Ferguson, but this year’s CL Final will have a richer narrative because of the men from Milan. Every panto needs a villain.”
Italian football is a fickle thing. Much maligned, much romanticised. But these are the facts. The national team are European champions, and all three European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League) could all yet be won by an Italian side.
I’ve got a funny feeling about Milan tonight. They are down but not out.
It’s 20 years since Milan and Inter last went toe-to-toe in the semi-finals of the Champions League. In this piece by Emmet Gates, Andriy Shevchenko remembers the goal that set Milan on their way to the final (and eventual glory at Old Trafford).
The players are out for their warm-up. The atmosphere is so deafening, I can’t hear what BT Sport’s James Horncastle is saying.
The teams
Inter (3-5-2): Onana, Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Martinez, Dzeko.
Subs: Handanovic, Gagliardini, De Vrij, Gosens, Correa, Bellanova,
Asllani, Cordaz, D’Ambrosio, Stankovic, Brozovic, Lukaku.
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan, Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez, Krunic, Tonali, Messias, Diaz, Leao, Giroud.
Subs: Ballo-Toure, Rebic, Kalulu Kyatengwa, Kjaer, Florenzi, Origi, Pobega, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Mirante, De Ketelaere, Nava.
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
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One Milan player that will not feature this evening is Ismaël Bennacer, who went off injured in the first leg. The Algerian has been at the heart of everything Milan have done well this season, particularly after his move up the pitch into the No 10 role. The club released a statement on his injury progress earlier today.
AC Milan announces that Ismaël Bennacer underwent surgery on his right knee in Lyon this morning. The repair of the cartilage lesion was successfully performed by Dr. Bertrand Sonnery Cottet in the presence of AC Milan’s club doctor, Dr. Stefano Mazzoni. The recovery time is estimated to be at least six months.
On his Instagram, Bennacer posted:
Hello everyone! My knee surgery went very well. The road to recovery starts today, It will be long, difficult, and will keep me away from the field for several months. But I am ready to overcome this ordeal with courage and determination. I will work hard, fight every day, to come back stronger and be again able to defend the colours of my club and my country. Thank you all for your messages and the strength you are giving me to get through all of this. I will keep you updated on each step of my recovery.
Inter are overwhelming favourites to reach the finals after their 2-0 win in the first leg. Milan were toothless without the injured Rafael Leão, their star player who watched on from the sidelines. But the Portuguese is back tonight, and any chance of a comeback for the ‘away’ side tonight rests squarely on his shoulders. Leão led Milan to the Scudetto last season. This campaign, he has missed three games, two due to suspension and one due to injury: Milan have lost all three. Leão’s assist to set up Olivier Giroud in the quarter-final against Napoli was one of the finest this season.
Rafael Leão's coast to coast run and assist 🥵@acmilan || #UCL pic.twitter.com/Uvrkf63B2U
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 21, 2023
Not only is he a matchwinner in his own right, but his ability to draw defenders opens up more space for Milan’s other attacking threats: Giroud and Brahim Díaz in particular. Leão’s importance cannot be overstated.
Preamble
This is no ordinary football match. Normally, a Champions League semi-final would demand enough attention. For Internazionale and Milan, this is not just about reaching the final. Whoever is victorious will celebrate the other’s demise as much as their own triumph. This is not just about tonight. This is about history. This is (also) about the future.
The history. Milan is the only city in Europe to have two Champions League winners within their walls, with Internazionale and Milan sharing 10 European Cups between them. Ten! But 13 years have passed since either scaled the mountain. The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is a unique stadium steeped in legacy, hosting four European Cup finals. Last week it pulsed with ferocity, and one wondered why anyone ever came up with idea of tearing the San Siro down. This week, it’s Inter’s turn to be the ‘home’ side, and they bring a 2-0 lead into the second leg, courtesy of goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The future. For Milan, this game has another facet. Their surprise 2-0 defeat to Spezia at the weekend means they now sit four points afrift of fourth-placed Lazio with three games remaining, meaning they are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season. Apart from the obvious glory of adding an eighth title, winning the competition would also ensure they qualify for 2023-24, providing a vital boost to the depleted coffers.
So, quite a lot to get excited about, then. This is no ordinary football match.
Kick-off: 8pm BST, 9pm in Milan.
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