Inter Milan defeated AC Milan 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal at San Siro thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
After a strong first half, Inter easily could have ended the match after blitzing their local rivals with two goals in the first 11 minutes.
After a lackluster start in front of their supporters, Milan improved after the break but will be grateful to still be within striking distance of the 2010 champions.
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The bitter rivals hadn’t faced off in the Champions League since their 2005 quarterfinal match, which was called off after 73 minutes of the second leg because some Inter fans had thrown flares into the field; one of the flares hit and hurt Milan goalkeeper Dida.
The loss of star forward Rafael Leao due to a muscular injury delivered a setback to Milan’s hopes of winning their eighth European Cup trophy and reaching their first final since their victory in 2007. The Italian team quickly outplayed Milan after a fast start from Simone Inzaghi’s side.
After just eight minutes, Inter took the lead when former Manchester City striker Dzeko outmuscled Davide Calabria at a corner kick from Federico Dimarco and slammed a volley from 12 yards past the defenseless Mike.
And three minutes later, they had a second. Mkhitaryan advanced through the Milan defense to shoot past Maignan after Dimarco was freed down the left and cut the ball across the area into his path.
The former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu’s 25-yard strike against the post and Maignan’s close-range block of Mkhitaryan’s attempt by Inter put the Rossoneri completely at sea.
Stefano Pioli’s team experienced a tremendous sigh of relief as Inter were given a penalty in the 31st minute after Lautaro Martinez was brought down by Simon Kjaer’s challenge.
But after the VAR asked him to evaluate his choice, Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano decided to reverse his initial call.
Denzel Dumfries just missed putting the finishing touches on Dimarco’s cross-shot as Inter continued their complete possession of the first half. Martinez then flashed a strike narrowly over.
Milan got off to a much stronger second period start. After missing a wonderful opportunity to score while through on goal, Junior Messias’ 20-yard curl just missed the target.
Maignan made a wonderful one-on-one stop to deny Dzeko, but Milan kept improving, and replacement Divock Origi was crucial in setting up Sandro Tonali, whose shot ricocheted against the left post.
However, Inter took advantage of Milan’s comeback and moved a step closer to the Istanbul final.