The more than likely presence of Portugal’s Rafael Leao in Milan’s eleven marks a match in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals in which Inter will need more coolness to capitalize on the two-goal advantage they have in had the first leg and a final they haven’t been able to do for thirteen years, against what would be a historic feat for the ‘rossoneri’, who need not only the head but also the heart to touch glory.
This Tuesday, a new ‘Derbi della Madonnina’ will take place in the Meazza, perhaps the most extraordinary of the past decade, with a Champions League final on the horizon. The second chapter of the duel of the ten ‘orejonas’ in which Inter is getting closer, but they will have to fight Milan’s most powerful weapon to reach it.
The first leg against Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro), with Milan at home, left the ‘rossoneri’ very moved. They watched their facet in the Champions League collapse in just twenty minutes of interista siege that decided the match. Pioli’s men woke up a bit in the second half, but without their star on the pitch they could do little to close the gap.
A crisis that worsened with the Serie A defeat against Spezia that puts their presence in this competition at risk next season.
But with the almost certain return of Leao to eleven, who already trained normally this Sunday along with the rest of his teammates, the paradigm changes of a ‘Derbi della Madonnina’ that is still not closed despite the goal difference. A goal from Milan opens the game wide open and the fight for a ticket to the final in Istanbul.
To do this, Pioli will not only introduce Leao’s change, but also put Thiaw on the defensive instead of Kjaer to stop Lautaro and Dzeko’s attacks; and will see Saelemaekers place Brahim as a pure midfielder despite the significant loss of Bennacer.
The rest of the eleven remain unshakeable, with Giroud in nine, Tonali and Krunic in midfield, and with Theo, Calabria and Tomori at the rear.
But to achieve the feat, the comeback against their historic rival, Milan will have to overcome the good defensive framework of an Inter going through its best moment. Finalists in the Italian Cup, Inzaghi’s men have also rebounded in Serie A and are third. Between all competitions, they have eight games without losing.
A ‘Nerazurro’ team that additionally this time gets the favor of a blue and black painted San Siro for the occasion, decked out to celebrate a Champions League final they haven’t played since 2010 by José Mourinho.
No changes are expected in the eleven with regard to the first leg. Inzaghi has given his most important players a rest this weekend. With Onana under the crossbar and his usual line of three, so far reliable in key moments, he will try to stop Leao’s attacks, the potential danger for Milan to fully draw level.
Calhanoglu will start from the start, joined by Barella and Mkhitaryan in midfield; while in attack they again form Dzeko and Lautaro, fundamentally in the first leg with their backside and constantly moving with Milan’s centre-backs.
The comeback goes through Leao. Milan starts this game with a backlog, but has not yet said the last word. Inter arrive in better form and with two goals from their mattress, but with the thorn in their side that they have not closed the game and are aware that they will have to fight to get back to the top.
The Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) will pronounce the verdict: the historic comeback is on the horizon for a Milan that will leave its soul; while Inter needs his head to certify a passport to Istanbul that he is already touching with his hands.
– Probable setups:
below: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro and Dzeko.
Milan: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo; Tonali, Krunic; Saelemaekers, Brahim, Leao; Giroud.
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA).
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
