Inter Milan have one foot in the Champions League final after beating arch-rivals AC Milan 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the San Siro.
In the first Champions League Milan derby since 2005, Inter scored two goals in the first 11 minutes to stun AC Milan, who were the home side for the first leg.
Edin Dzeko volleyed home from a corner to score Inter’s opener, before another former Premier League player – Henrikh Mkhitaryan – doubled the lead.
Inter Milan came close to effectively putting the tie to bed when Hakan Calhanoglu hit the post, but AC Milan improved after half-time and also struck the woodwork through Sandro Tonali.
AC Milan will look to overturn a two-goal deficit when they face Inter Milan at the same venue next Tuesday, with the winner facing Manchester City or Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Just two points separates the Milan rivals in the Serie A table but Inter looked a level above in the early stages of the Champions League semi-final first leg.
It took Simone Inzaghi’s side just eight minutes to take the lead as ex-Manchester City striker Dzeko emphatically volleyed home from Calhanoglu’s corner.
The San Siro was left stunned just three minutes later as former Manchester United and Arsenal winger Mkhitaryan was allowed to race through on goal and slot past a helpless Mike Maignan.
Inter Milan were almost in dreamland shortly after as Calhanoglu struck the post with a superb sliced effort, and Maignan denied Nicolo Barella from the same attack.
It took AC Milan 30 minutes to muster up their first shot on goal – Davide Calabria’s inventive backheel missing the target – but Inter went down the other end and thought they had won a penalty.
Lautaro Martinez was seemingly dragged back by Simon Kjaer but referee Jesus Gil Manzano was advised to check the pitchside monitor and overturned his initial decision.
Brahim Diaz and Junior Messias both curled efforts wide as AC Milan looked to reduce the deficit after half-time, but Inter still looked dangerous as Dzeko was denied by Maignan.
The home side had their best chance of the match on the hour mark when substitute Divock Origi and Olivier Giroud combined well and laid the ball off to Sandro Tonali, who clipped the outside of the post with Andre Onana rooted to the spot.
A goal would have given Stefano Pioli’s side real hope of mounting a semi-final comeback but Inter nearly scored for the third time through Roberto Gagliardini, who was tackled in the nick of time.
AC Milan created another chance in injury-time but Tommaso Pobega’s strike lacked power and Inter held on to ensure they boast a two-goal advantage ahead of next week’s second leg.
More to follow…
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