UEFA Champions League: Lautaro Martinez Powers Inter Milan As AC Milan Into Final

Inter Milan reached their first Champions League final in more than a decade with a 1-0 win against city rival AC Milan on Tuesday. Inter had taken a 2–0 lead in the first leg of the semi-finals, and a 74th-minute goal from Lautaro Martínez ended all hopes of a comeback for Milan.

Several players from both teams collapsed on the field in tears at the final whistle as the Nerazzurri won the so-called “Euroderby” 3–0 to progress to their first final after winning the league, Italian Cup and Champions League under Jose’s leadership. took. Mourinho in 2010.

Inter’s players and staff then celebrated for a long time with their fans, singing and dancing in front of the Curva Nord, filled with Nerazzurri supporters in an electric atmosphere at the San Siro – the stadium that the two teams share. . Inter coach Stefano Inzaghi said, “It’s obviously a great feeling, a dream that I’ve had together with the guys, that we’ve cherished since the time of the draw.” “We had to believe in ourselves and we have come here on merit, nobody has given us anything.

“We’ve had a long road, with difficulties but I think we’ve earned it. I think maybe tomorrow we’ll realize more of what we’ve done. But it’s a great night with the fans, With our family, you couldn’t ask for much more.”

Inter will face either 14-time champions Real Madrid or another masterclass at Manchester City in Istanbul on June 10. The second leg of the other semi-final is on Wednesday, with the scoreline tied at 1-1. “Whoever we end up with, we will be unlucky because they are two great teams with incredible quality,” said Inzaghi with a wry smile. “I will watch tomorrow’s match like I watched the first leg. … Obviously we will be following this closely.”

The long wait for matching continues. It last reached the showpiece event in 2007, when it won the last of its seven titles. Milan coach Stefano Pioli said, “At the moment there is only disappointment, only disappointment because we could have reached the final of the Champions League.” “But if we think that last year we were eliminated in the group stage and this year we have managed to reach the semi-finals then we should be proud.

“But it is clear that we dreamed of reaching the final, we wanted the final, we wanted to beat our rivals.”

,#ucl pic.twitter.com/02hkhleS6e– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 16, 2023

Milan was able to welcome back Rafael Leao. He missed last week with a thigh injury and the Rossoneri will be hoping his return inspires the team to do the same. The difference was immediately apparent as Milan played with an intensity it lacked in the first leg amid frantic starts from both teams.

Brahim Díaz comfortably smacked a weak shot past Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana before Leão almost put Milan back in front with his first real sight of goal shortly before halftime. The winger made a quick run down the left side of the area, but his angled drive grazed just outside the far post.

Inter also had chances to end the tie as Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired over the bar, while Milan goalkeeper Mike Magnan made a brilliant reaction save to keep out an Edin Dzeko header from close range. Inter sealed their place in the final when Martínez made his way down the left side of the area and exchanged passes with Romelu Lukaku – who had come on for Džeko less than 10 minutes earlier – hitting the post. before firing.

It was the same attacking partnership that had won Inter the Serie A title two years earlier, earning the duo the nickname “Lula”. “The biggest regret is the first 10 minutes of the first leg, when we conceded two goals in three, four minutes,” Pioli said. , extra confidence which could have helped us open the match.