Inter Milan have taken a good advantage in their UEFA Champions League semi-final after defeating rivals AC Milan 2-0 in the first leg on Wednesday night.
UEFA Champions League
Result: AC Milan 0-2 Inter Milan
Date: 10 May 2023
Venue: San Siro
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi opted to start Edin Dzeko over Romelu Lukaku, who has come into a bit of form recently while Milan were without star forward Rafael Leão, who picked an injury over the weekend.
Dzeko repaid the faith after just seven minutes as he opened the scoring with a well-taken volley directly from Hakan Çalhanoglu's corner, taking his tally to four goals in the tournament.
The lead was doubled three minutes later when Henrikh Mkhitaryan took Federico Dimarco's low cross into his stride to surge into the box and fire past Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The Rossoneri were forced to make a change on 20 minutes when Algeria international Ismael Bennacer picked up an injury and was replaced Junior Messias
Milan were at sixes and sevens at the back for most of the half and they were caught wanting again on 30 minutes Lautaro Martinez was brought down by Simon Kjaer and a penalty was awarded, however after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the referee overturned his initial decision.
After a disappointing first half, Milan should have pulled a goal back seven minutes after the break when Messias was played in down the right side of the box, but the attacker failed to hit the target from close range.
Milan coach Stefano Piolo then opted for a double change for the final 30 minutes, with Divock Origi and Malick Thiaw replacing Alexis Saelemaekers and Kjaer as they looked to reduce the deficit.
The Rossoneri went close to pulling a goal back on 64 minutes when Olivier Giroud did well to tee up Sandro Tonali, who took one touch before unleashing a strike that crashed against the upright.
With Milan seeing more of the ball, Inzaghi refreshed his Inter side on 70 minutes as Dzeko and Dimarco made way for Lukaku and Stefan de Vrij, with the Belgian striker causing a bit of problems with his pace and strength.
Milan did have a couple sights at goal in the latter stages of the first half but neither were able to trouble goalkeeper Andre Onana, as they will head into the next week's second leg two goals down.
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