Milan Derby in the Champions League: AC Milan Down 0-2 Within 11 Minutes, Inter Fans in Heaven While Milan Dreams Turn into Nightmare
The much-hyped Milan derby in the Champions League since 2005 left AC Milan trailing 2-0 in just 11 minutes, much to the dismay of the home supporters. The San Siro stadium hosted both legs, and before kick-off, AC Milan fans unveiled a giant devil’s face display with the words “Hell is empty, all the devils are here!” However, Inter fans quickly took control, with Edin Dezko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring two goals.
Former AC Milan goalkeeper Asmir Begovic remarked at half-time, “Everything that could have gone wrong for Milan has done. It is an absolute disaster, and one in their wildest dreams, they could not have imagined.”
Despite several missed chances by Inter Milan and a controversial decision by the video assistant referee, AC Milan may have been handed an undeserved lifeline.
AC Milan Overwhelmed by Stage Fright
AC Milan derby in a European competition is always a special occasion, and Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg was no exception. The rare encounter between AC Milan and Inter Milan on the continental stage was highly anticipated by both sets of supporters.
AC Milan, playing as the home team at their shared San Siro stadium, boasted a larger fan presence. The atmosphere was electrifying, with a cacophony of noise, vibrant red smoke flares, and impressive banners creating an intimidating backdrop.
However, it was the away side, Inter Milan, who seized control from the start. Surging into a two-goal lead, they consistently exploited AC Milan’s defensive vulnerabilities, even striking the woodwork with an attempt by Hakan Calhanoglu.
In a twist of fate, Inter Milan was initially awarded a first-half penalty for a foul on Lautaro Martinez, only for the decision to be controversially overturned after a VAR review.
Simone Inzaghi, the manager of Inter Milan, praised his team’s brilliant first-half performance but acknowledged that the scoreline did not fully reflect their dominance, stating, “It’s a hugely positive night which gives us a lot of satisfaction, but we’re missing one more piece to attain a dream that we believed in since August.”
Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch expressed surprise at AC Milan’s passive approach, remarking, “I found it bizarre for AC Milan to be so passive. Inter could have been out of sight.” Meanwhile, ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand summarized AC Milan’s subdued display as “stage fright,” contrasting with the dynamic and assertive performance of Inter Milan.
