And so this city is black and blue. Appropriate colors given the defeat Inter handed down to their servile rivals en route to the final. Battered, injured and battered in their own colors, Milan were a sad sight at this stage in the world’s top club competition.
It wasn’t so much the catenaccio of Simone Inzaghi’s winning goals, that great old art of Italian defence, as the vandalism of an opponent who wasn’t good enough to score.
As for Inter, they did what they had to and took a 2-0 lead from the first leg to secure victory when Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal with 16 minutes remaining. However, that’s the extent of the praise considering how poor Milan were.
Because here in smoldering San Siro, amid an explosion of flares and firecrackers, was a Champions League semi-final in name and atmosphere alone. The rising smoke seemed like a symbol of Milan’s desperate hope of ever getting beyond that draw. If only the flicker of flames in the stands burned just as brightly beneath the shirts of the red and black clads. They needed at least two goals but didn’t even manage two shots on target.
They think UEFA might as well present the trophy in Manchester tonight in the second semi-final. This unexpected pairing would likely never spell the rebirth of Italian football. It was more like a party for two old boys in a retirement home. You can pass it off as experience, but Inter don’t have the skill or stamina to beat Manchester City or Real Madrid.
Lautaro Martinez’s second-half goal secured Inter Milan their place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2010
The Inter faithful can look forward to their first Champions League final appearance since winning in 2010
Fikayo Tomori (left), Olivier Giroud (centre) and the AC Milan players looked dejected after their eminent defeat
In contrast, there were jubilant scenes for Inter as the players celebrated reaching the final with their fans
We should still applaud them for getting this far, and despite that ugly draw – there were more fouls than tackles – they were deserved winners. But the victory over Milan is not a reliable indicator of form.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli said: “When you reach that level, you either play two great games or you’re eliminated.” “We couldn’t raise the bar.”
In the hours leading up to kick-off, the center of Milan was a Nerazzurri stronghold. It was as if the first leg had given them territorial rights, if not boasted.
Pizza del Duomo swayed, bounced and rang to the tune of Inter’s songbook, drowning out the ever-present roar of sirens. There weren’t any problems, but mostly the traffic and the crowds of Inter fans that had to be monitored. Maybe it was because the other half of this derby was taking place inside the cathedral. My goodness, they had to say their prayers after the first leg.
At least God’s healing hands had reached out and touched Rafael Leao’s thigh. The striker’s absence, Milan Cyclopean supporters claimed, was the reason for their rather metaphorical non-appearance six days ago.
So it has nothing to do with defenders who failed to execute the basic techniques of kick, tackle and mark. Last week it was less a welcome mat and more a fully carpeted piazza that they presented Inter’s attack as a place of passage.
That early collapse – Inter scoring their two goals within 11 minutes – had been the subject of intense scrutiny in the days that followed.
The obsessive, ongoing, all-media coverage reflected the soap opera drama that surrounded the event. Not that the first episode ended on a cliffhanger. It felt more like Milan had already fallen early in the game.
GAME FACTS AND RATINGS
INTER (3-5-2): Onana 7; Darmian 6, Acerbi 6, Bastoni 7; 6 Dumfries, 6 Barella (84 Gagliardini), 7 Calhanoglu, 6 Mkhitaryan (44 Brozovic), 6 Dimarco (66 Gosens); Martinez 8 (Correa 84), Dzeko 6 (Lukaku 66).
Unused subs: Handanovic, De Vrij, Bellanova, Asllani, Cordaz, D’Ambrosio, Stankovic. Booked: Barella, Martinez.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan 6; Calabria 6, Thiaw 6 (Kalulu 64), Tomori 6, Hernandez 6; Krunic 6, Tonali 6; Messiah 5 (Saelemaekers 76), Diaz 5 (Origi 76), Leao 5; Giroud 5.
Unused subs: Ballo-Toure, Rebic, Kjaer, Florenzi, Pobega, Gabbia, Mirante, De Ketelaere, Nava.
man of the match: Lautaro Martinez.
Referee: Clement Turpin.
Participation: 75,567.
Milan huffed and puffed for 74 minutes in the second leg but failed to score the goal that would spark a comeback
Simone Inzaghi was keen for his side to keep a clean sheet in the game and advance to the final
Martinez then pulled in a cool close-range finish with 16 minutes remaining to complete Inter’s win
His strike sealed Inzaghi’s side a 3-0 aggregate win and secured their place in next month’s Istanbul final
The Argentine celebrated his decisive goal to a jubilant Inter crowd at the San Siro, where they hosted that night
The plot twist came from Leao, Milan’s brave protagonist. The pink sheets of the Italian press devoted several pages yesterday to the 23-year-old’s return. However, he had to find just as many words if he wanted to rewrite this screenplay. Unlikely.
The Portuguese was lucky to avoid a penalty for a heavy touch and a foul within five minutes, a mistake that betrayed his lack of fitness. Perhaps God had softened the false thigh. He puffed and puffed, but didn’t blow anything.
It was like a game of chess at times – not tactically demanding, just a little boring and uneventful. Remove the brilliant noise and colors that exist off the pitch, and what’s left on the pitch is low-quality monochrome competition.
But at least the winning goal shone in a more positive light on this occasion. Substitute Romelu Lukaku rolled a pass to Martinez, who escaped his observer and shot low past the keeper.
Milan never came back from that. In truth, they were hit before a ball was kicked.
Inter cheered in front of their fans and now face either Manchester City or Real Madrid
It will be devastating for AC Milan, not only having lost to their rivals but also having barely been able to strike
