Following Inter's commanding two-goal lead in the semi-final clash of the Champions League between the two clubs, the outcome of the fifth and final Derby della Madonnina of the season will determine whether it will be the Nerazzurri or Rossoneri representing Italy's second city in the final next month. Displaying exceptional form at the right moment, after a season marred by inconsistencies in Serie A, Inter took a significant step towards the final by overwhelming their long-standing adversaries during an exhilarating first half last Wednesday.
Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan turned back the clock to give the Nerazzurri a dream start, both scoring within 11 minutes of the opening whistle. From that point on, the first Milan derby in Europe's premier club competition in 18 years was firmly in Inter's control. Simone Inzaghi's side have already defeated their Rossoneri rivals three times this season, with previous wins in the league and Supercoppa Italiana.
Remaining resilient throughout their journey to this stage, in stark contrast to their 11 league defeats this season, Inter has yet to trail at any point in the knockout phase and has kept clean sheets in four out of five matches. Now on the verge of their sixth European Cup or Champions League final, which would be their first since 2010, the Nerazzurri are just 90 minutes away from securing their place in the showpiece event next month. Should they hold their nerve, they will face either Manchester City or reigning champions Real Madrid in Istanbul.
The current form suggests this outcome is likely, as Milan has been consistently dropping points in domestic competitions and currently trails Inter by five points in the Serie A standings. In contrast, Inzaghi's men have hit top form and enter the second leg on the back of a seven-match winning streak. With their experienced squad and the resurgence of Romelu Lukaku, who scored twice in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Sassuolo, Inter will surely expect to advance, especially with the support of their predominantly blue-and-black-clad crowd at San Siro, their shared home stadium.
Adding to Milan's psychological burden ahead of the second leg, they have now suffered three consecutive losses against Inter without managing to score a single goal. The seven-time European champions have never endured such a goalless streak against the Nerazzurri in four consecutive matches, and if they want to salvage something from the semi-final tie, they must put an end to this sequence.
In the history of the Champions League, only one team has managed to overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg of a semi-final and progress—Liverpool's incredible comeback against Barcelona in 2019. However, this is the daunting task that lies ahead for Stefano Pioli's side. Milan striker Divock Origi memorably scored twice in that remarkable game against Barcelona, but he was once again unable to find the net in Saturday's match, as the Rossoneri's recent decline continued with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Spezia.
The limitations of Pioli's squad were once again exposed at Stadio Picco, as an altered lineup plagued by several injuries was humbled by the struggling Serie A side, leaving Milan four points adrift of the top four with only three games remaining. After dethroning Inter as Italian champions last year, Milan recently relinquished the Scudetto to Napoli, their conquerors in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Now, their hopes of securing their first European title since 2007 hang by a thread as they prepare for another clash against one of Italy's football's titans.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
In preparation for the crucial derby on Tuesday, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will make several changes to his lineup, reintroducing key players such as Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries, and Andre Onana against Milan.While Robin Gosens has recently recovered from a dislocated shoulder, Federico Dimarco retained his place in the squad for the victory over Sassuolo. The wing-back has been instrumental in the Champions League this season, providing five assists from open play, more than any other player.
Injury concerns will only rule out Milan Skriniar, although Joaquin Correa picked up a knock in Saturday's match and may be unavailable. In any case, Correa will need to make way for Martinez, while it remains to be seen whether Inzaghi will select Edin Dzeko or Romelu Lukaku as the strike partner for the latter.
On the other hand, Milan is grappling with a potentially lengthy list of absentees. Junior Messias, Rade Krunic, and Ismael Bennacer, who suffered a season-ending knee injury, all missed the trip to La Spezia alongside star player Rafael Leao. As Milan's hopes of reaching the final may rely on Leao's availability, every effort will be made to ensure his recovery. In the event that the Portuguese forward fails a fitness test, Alexis Saelemaekers is likely to take his place.
Olivier Giroud will return to the front line, resulting in Divock Origi being relegated to the bench. Captain Davide Calabria is expected to replace Pierre Kalulu at right-back, while Malick Thiaw is likely to be included in the defense for added speed, potentially replacing Simon Kjaer.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez; Tonali, Pobega; Diaz, Krunic, Saelemaekers; Giroud
EXPERT PREDICTION
Inter Milan 3-1 AC Milan
Overflowing with confidence and a wealth of experience in knockout football, Inter not only showcased their superiority over Milan in the first leg but also boast a deeper pool of talent. It is evident that the Nerazzurri are poised to confidently outshine their Rossoneri counterparts and secure their place in the Champions League final.
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