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AC Milan and Inter will have a wide array of attacking talent on display but it is the midfield that could be the difference in the tight UEFA Champions League semi-final.
After years of dormancy, Italian football roars back to the forefront of Europe’s elite with a Derby Della Madonnina semi-final in the UEFA Champions League.
This exhibition of prime Calcio ball has the tendency to go either way especially as both teams have already come further in this tournament than anyone predicted, this one promises to be a tight encounter.
AC Milan v Inter preview
For starters, this is their first meeting in the Champions League since the quarter-finals in 2005 so there is not a large frame of reference for the Milan derby outside of Italian football, one can only ask that the match be completed this time at the very least.
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20:39 - 09.05.2023
AC Milan vs Inter: 5 Greatest Milan derbies of the 21st century
The Derby Della Madonnina, one of the most famous derbies in football history is set to light up the UCL semifinals and in celebration of this we look back at the most colossal Milan derbies this century
And even though both teams are historically big clubs, these are heights they have each not achieved in a long time. This is Milan’s first Champions League semi-final since they won the trophy in 2007.
The same applies to Inter as well who won the Champions League in 2010 and then failed to make it past the quarter-finals since then until this season.
Recent fixtures between them have leaned toward Inter as the Nerazzuri won three of the last five Milan derbies while the Rossoneri have only won once and there has been one draw.
However, in Milan’s favour, they have only lost one of their last four home games to Inter which is rather surprising considering both teams share a stadium. But the Rossoneri clearly prefer playing at San Siro rather than the Stade Guiseppe Meazza.
The pair appear to be entering into good form at the right time just before this blockbuster fixture as Milan are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run while Inter have won their last five games across all competitions, losing just once in their last 10 matches.
So having established that the result of this game is almost impossible to predict, we can still expect a good game of Champions League football between both Milan giants with quality players everywhere on the pitch to make an impact.
Players to watch in AC Milan v Inter
Obviously, the forwards are the main attraction with joint-top scorer Rafael Leao looking to maintain his status as the talisman for the hosts by building on his superb quarter-final display against Napoli.
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22:23 - 09.05.2023
UCL AC Milan sweating over Rafeal Leao’s injury, Pioli provides update ahead of high-stakes derby
Seven-time UEFA Champions League winners AC Milan are desperate to have star Rafael Leao fit, after he missed first-team training on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the highly anticipated derby with nemesis Inter Milan.
However, as injuries continue to threaten Leao’s availability for the first leg, his joint-top scorer with 13 goals, Olivier Giroud will most likely bear the goalscoring burden all by himself as no other Milan player has even scored double figures across all competitions this season.
The Milan defence will have their hands full with Inter’s three strikers, all of whom have scored double figures this season, especially Lautaro Martinez who has a great record in the Derby Della Madonnina.
The Argentine striker has seven goals and an assist in 12 games against Milan while his partner in crime, Lukaku has scored five times in six previous Milan derbies.
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However, there is reason to believe both attacks would be neutralised, leaving the fate of the game in the middle of the park which could completely change the dynamics of this game.
Midfield battle in the Milan derby
Leao’s most likely unavailability would mean Milan have to find a new focal point for their attacks which will naturally be Brahim Diaz, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder who has contributed six goals and four assists across all competitions.
The Spaniard has been crucial to Milan’s run in this tournament, scoring the only goal in the 1-0 aggregate win against Tottenham in the round of 16. Diaz works well in transition because of his pace but also has enough passing ability to hurt Inter if they sit back.
Speaking of Inter, Nicolo Barella continues to enjoy an oddly prolific season with the Nerazurri as he has scored eight goals so far.
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Depending on the flow of the game, the mercurial Italian may be charged with more of a defensive responsibility to match Milan’s midfield which has a solid base of Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer and/or Rade Krunic depending on how Stefano Pioli decides to line up.
Inter usually have Brozovic as the deep-lying playmaker flanked by either Hakan Calhanoglu or Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Barella, both of whom share roles between box-to-box and outright attacking midfielders.
Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi may be tempted to switch it up in the middle by introducing Roberto Gagliardini for defensive midfield steel along with the more technical Brozovic.
Both coaches have it all to do in attempts to earn their teams the advantage in this utterly unpredictable Champions League first leg but hopefully, the game and tie by extension lives up to expectations.
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