Milan will have to overcome the odds in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter, setting up a number of key battles across the pitch.
The Rossoneri disappointed in the first leg last week, falling 2-0 after early goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Stefano Pioli’s side were not up to their usual standards and the absence of Rafael Leao was painfully felt, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return clash.
Now it’s do or die time in the Champions League semi-final. Inter are hungry to reach their first final in over a decade and will be feeling confident, whilst Milan are desperate to find some redemption on the European front after a disappointing campaign as defending champions in Serie A.
With all eyes in Italy on the clash between Inter and Milan at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, which on-pitch duels will prove most important in the fight for European glory?
1 – Rafael Leao vs Lautaro Martinez
Two players who will be expecting to play a leading role in this Champions League semi-final clash are the two talismanic forwards of Milan and Inter – Leao and Lautaro.
The former could do nothing but watch on in horror in the first leg, unable to help as his team slumped to defeat. After building a sufficient level of match fitness following his recent calf injury, Leao will be hoping to prove his star status on the biggest stage. The 23-year-old has directly contributed to 26 goals this season and he’ll be desperate to increase that figure by at least two.
On the other side of the coin is Lautaro. The 25-year-old has been the standout star of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter squad this season, scoring 24 goals and providing 10 assists, and he’ll be hungry to truly cement his heroic status in this European Derby della Madonnina. The 2022 World Cup winner has already scored twice against the Rossoneri this season and one more could be enough to secure victory.
2 – Nicolo Barella vs Sandro Tonali
Another important duel in this European Derby della Madonnina will come in the centre of the pitch, an area that Inter dominated in their first leg win. The injury to Ismael Bennacer weakens the Milan midfield, putting increased pressure on Tonali, who’ll be hoping to get one over his Azzurri teammate Barella.
Barella has been the lynch pin of the midfield under Simone Inzaghi, playing an important role both offensively and defensively. In the first leg, he completed 84% of his 32 passes, creating two chances and winning three duels, and he’ll be hoping to be equally as key for Inter as they fight for a spot in the final.
Tonali, on the other hand, struggled to show his best in the first leg. The injury to Bennacer and a poor performance from Rade Krunic left him with too much to do in the midfield, limiting his ability to contribute. He has been a consistent and hard-working player under Pioli and now he has the chance to show why he should be considered a talismanic figure for the Rossoneri for years to come.
3 – Mike Maignan vs Andre Onana
No two players have consistently played at a high level for their respective teams more than Maignan and Onana this season. Both will be hoping to stay rock solid at the back as their teammates fight for control across the pitch.
Maignan was a vital part of Milan’s Scudetto success last campaign and his injuries this season perfectly highlighted his importance to the team, with his absence coinciding with their failure to keep up with eventual Serie A champions Napoli. When fit, the 27-year-old is clearly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and the perfect heir to Hugo Llloris’ spot in the France squad.
It’s hard to believe that this is still Onana’s first season with Inter. The 27-year-old, after a slow start, has been an incredibly mature and reliable custodian of the Nerazzurri net, regularly making vital saves to keep things safe at the back. Victory in this derby could help the Cameroonian start making a case as the top shot stopper in the Italian peninsula.