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Inter fans sang “Muchachos nos Volvimos a Ilusionar”, an unofficial anthem for Argentina fans in Qatar. He was part of the group of Interista guys who stayed at the San Siro during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final to be played in the Milan derby. There was no shortage of reasons for followers to feel like winners. In the 12th minute, Inter were 2-0 up, gazing at Milan’s apparent inability to stage their attacks over the course of a game that rewarded conservatism and elevated the unexpected Dzeko to heroic status. Coming back next Tuesday on the same stage is a clear favourite.
0
Mike Maignan, Kjaer (Malick Thiaw, min. 59), Davide Calabria (Pierre Kalulu Kyatengwa, min. 81), Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernández, Rade Krunic, Bennacer (Junior Messias, min. 17), Brahim Diaz (Tommaso Pobega, min 82), Sandro Tonali, Alexis Saelemaekers (Divock Origi, min 59) and Giroud
2
Andre Onana, Darmian, Alessandro Bastoni, Acerbi, Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Mkhitaryan (Brozovic, min. 62), Calhanoglu (Gagliardini, min. 77), Dimarco (de Vrij, min. 70), Lautaro Martínez (Joaquin Correa, min . 78) and Dzeko (Lukaku, min. 70)
Goals 0-1min 7: Dzeko. 0-2 mins 10: Mkhitaryan.
referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards Mkhitaryan (min. 46) and Fikayo Tomori (min. 64)
With a 60-meter kick-kick controlled by Edin Dzeko behind the opposing lines, Inter began to execute his primitive shot. The 37-year-old Bosnian, who has scored three Serie A goals since January, gives an insight into the state of the Interista squad. There is no doubt that Dzeko is the player with the most Inter attacking qualities, but his ailments of age had held him back. He looked like a deceased player when Inzaghi, the coach, was looking for him in the crypt to star on the big day of the season against Lukaku, the famous Belgian tank. Inzaghi hit the target because Dzeko perfectly interpreted his role as the only point of reference for a team that jumped to the San Siro to speculate and wait.
Milan started the game with indecisive pressing, as if local conditions were forcing them to take an initiative they didn’t want. Inter, who had to start without Brozovic due to physical problems, didn’t take any chances. He wasn’t surprised either. When in doubt, he played for a long time. After five minutes, the most rudimentary push-off imaginable, reminiscent of the wild 90s, gave him support. Dzeko pulled out oil. Tomori needed him and from that moment Milan lost control of the situation. Inter established themselves in their field by intercepting rejections, throw-ins and corner kicks. After a corner kick, Dzeko scored the 0:1 himself in the six-yard box, against Calabria’s pointless goal.
The goal illustrated the frightening state of Milan’s defence. A bunch of people with problems whose most confused man is Fikayo Tomori. Two minutes after the 0:1, the Englishman went behind Dzeko and left the center lane unprotected. The widest access route to your destination. Mkhitaryan came into play alone after a counterattack before shooting the Milan goalkeeper to the astonishment of the fans.
What followed was 80 minutes of frustration for Milan, with no creativity in front of Inzaghi’s wall. Last season’s Serie A champions showed their impotence on all fronts, a natural consequence of the lacking level of their midfielders and forwards. He didn’t know how to defend, didn’t stand up well to pressure in the rare moments when he was subdued, nor was he able to create the slightest threat in the opponent’s goal. Çalhanoğlu hit the post to make it 3-0 and Dzeko had a one-on-one with Maignan, which was saved by the goalkeeper. The finalist could be determined in 90 minutes. Milan have minimal hope.
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