Inter paints Milan in black and blue (0-2)

Inter started to change their particular history of European disappointments against Milan’s neighbors with a strong performance in the Champions League semi-final between the two Lombard giants. Two decades after the duel in which Rossoneri in the final in which they would get their sixth and penultimate big win against Juve, this time the joy went to the side Nerazzurri. At least for now.

And it is true that the first part was more difficult, especially the brilliant start of Inter, who scored twice in ten minutes with goals from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan and threw the great enemy on the frame. Milan came close to a definitive exit in a disastrous first half and although they rallied after the break in search of a goal to level the contest, they missed the injured Leão, one of their best attacking resources, and came out very poorly before returning to the same stage, but this time with a hostile majority in the stands.

In ancient and essence-filled San Siro, where so many battles were fought Rossoneri and Nerazzurri in Europe, where it was hosted, the tension between neighbors could be cut with a knife twenty years after the last and only precedent at the gates of the Champions League final. Everything pointed to a very close relationship, she fought inch by inch, but the storm Nerazzurri the beginning was devastating. Barella took a corner kick masterfully, and Džeko doubled the stakes with an incredible volley. With the experienced Calabria on top, the Bosnian armed his left foot and turned Maignano into a statue.

The worst did not happen for Milan, who, without time to assimilate the shot, gave veteran Mkhitaryan all the opportunities in the world to take advantage of Dimarco’s cross from the left and the passivity at the back. Rossoneri and thus silenced most of the stands, this time red and black.

Milan’s shock was already total. The legendary Paolo Maldini grimaced in the penalty area as Çalhanoglu tested the woodwork of Maignan’s goal and Bennacer gave way to Júnior Messias through injury after the Milan keeper kept out Mkhitaryan’s second goal.

There was no sign of Milan recovering and the local debacle could have been greater without VAR, as the technology allowed Spain’s Gil Manzano to cancel out Kjaer’s non-existent penalty on Lautaro Martínez after the Denmark centre-back’s minimal clash with the Argentina forward in the box. No sign of that team infested with trades, until the end of the fight against Tottenham and Naples, two important rivals to whom they conceded one goal and everything is already resolved.

reaction without reward

The scenario this time was colorful for the unrestrained Inter, dizzying on the tracks with Dumfries and Dimarco, ordered by Barella’s stick and threatening through Lautaro’s quality between the lines and Dzeko’s invaluable work as a pure attacker. The unpredictable Onana was a luxurious spectator of the exhibition during the first part Nerazzurrithe only colors that were on the green before the break.

At Milan, something changed at the break, because the offensive production of Pioli’s players in just a few minutes of the second half was higher than in the entire first half. Brahim Díaz and Junior Messias were not precise in front of the home goal, but at least they raised the morale of the Milan team.

Dzeko hit back with a shot from the penalty spot that was blocked by Maignan, but the trend was reversed and Milan put in the rest in search of a goal which they scored in the equaliser. Tonali brushed him, hit the post with a long shot, and Pioli doubled the stake with very offensive changes, but it was not enough. It is much more difficult for Milan to live without Leão. The capital of Lombardy is currently in black and blue, but there is still a battle left. It will be next Tuesday, same place and same time.