Pioli confirms Leao likely to return for AC Milan in 2nd leg of Champions League semifinals
Inter Milan are on course to reach the Champions League final after taking a two-goal lead in their semi-final tie against local rivals AC Milan.
A strong first-half performance saw Simone Inzaghi’s side secured their advantage thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. As both teams play their home matches at the San Siro tonight’s encounter is an almost carbon-copy of the first leg. The difference being that most of the crowd inside the San Siro will be Inter fans as they are the designated hosts this evening.
Based on their performance in the first leg AC Milan have serious work to do. Though they improved in the second half Milan were short of threat in front of goal all evening and with them needing to cut a two-goal deficit they cannot afford to be as wasteful tonight.
Stefano Pioli will be overjoyed by the return of Rafael Leao. The forward has been passed fit to play after recovering from injury and will be required to play a key role if his side are to reach the European showcase.
Follow all the action as Inter and Milan clash in the Champions League semi-final:
Inter vs AC Milan
- Inter host AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg
- They won the first leg 2-0 and look set to reach the final in June
- 11’ SAVE! – Onana smothers Diaz’s first time shot (INT 0-0 MIL)
- Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
- AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Messias, Tonali, Krunic; Giroud, Diaz, Leao
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Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
27 mins: Messias has been a bright spark for Milan so far. He wins a free kick out wide on the right allowing Tonali to whip a free kick into the box.
Inter deal with the cross easily enough though.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:27
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
24 mins: The referee has been decent so far. There’s been some heavy tackles flying in – from both sides – but the official is letting things simmer away.
Dumfries gets free on the right and cross the ball towards Martinez but Milan marshall it behind for a corner.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:25
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
21 mins: Rade Krunic feeds a nice pass into the feet of Rafael Leao who is forced out wide by Denzel Dumfries. Nicolo Barella jogs back to double up on the forward and his pass into the middle is wayward.
Inter look to break forward and send the ball to Lautaro Martinez who gets brought down inside Milan’s half.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:22
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
18 mins: Calabria’s cross is intercepted and booted away by Barella who is back inside his own box to help out defensively.
Inter need to take a firmer grip on the game, Milan look confident and an early goal for them will reignite this semi-final.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:18
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
15 mins: Messias’s run down the right wing brings a corner kick for AC Milan. Tonali curls the ball into the box but Edin Dzeko leaps up highest and heads the ball away.
This has been a good start from Milan though. They look more aggressive and solid that in the first leg.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:16
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
11 mins: Chance! Sandro Tonali takes the ball off Henrikh Mkhitaryan inside Inter’s final third. He storms down the left wing and nips into the back before cutting the ball back to Brahim Diaz.
Diaz shoots first time and draws the save out of Andre Onana!
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:13
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
10 mins: There’s a bit of pressure coming from Milan now. They work it nicely across the pitch to Davide Calabria.
The right-back sends it to Junior Messias who swings a nice cross over to the back post where Olivier Giroud wins the header ahead of goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Brahim Diaz and Sandro Tonali are waiting in the box but Matteo Darmian nods it clear.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:11
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
7 mins: It’s Nicolo Barella’s turn for a shot this turn as he’s allowed to turn on the edge of the ‘D’. He shoots as he’s spinning towards goal but lifts his effort high and wide.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:07
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
4 mins: An early ball from Federico Dimarco comes into the AC Milan box and fins Nicolo Barella. He nods it down to Edin Dzeko who smokes a shot at on the half-volley and sees Mike Maignan palm the effort wide.
The whistle goes for a foul from Barella so the goal wouldn’t have stood even if Dzeko scored. Good save from Maignan though.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:05
Inter 0-0 Milan (2-0 agg)
3 mins: Inter have started on the front foot much like they did in the first leg. Their mode of attack is coming from the right side of the pitch in these opening stages.
Dumfries plays a one-two with Nicolo Barella and attempts to get past Theo Hernandez. The left-back manages to get his body between Dumfries and the ball, earning Milan another free kick deep in their own half.
Mike Jones16 May 2023 20:03