Inter Milan took the lead in the Champions League semifinal against their city rivals, Milan, with goals from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan inside the opening 11 minutes. The early strike put the tie on a knife-edge and moved the edge of the final a step closer to the Italian club.
Inzaghi’s side now faces a specific path to the final. With them holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, a win, draw, or even a loss by fewer than three goals in the second leg would still see Inter advance to the championship match. Conversely, Milan would need a three-goal win to force extra time and tilt the balance back in their favor against a defensively solid Inter side.
The practical outcome is clear: Inter must defend their lead and avoid conceding enough to swing the tie in Milan’s favor. A two-goal win for the Rosssoneri would push the tie into extra time, where a balanced contest could swing on a single moment or save. If Inter can prevent Milan from hitting the back of the net in the second leg, they’ll secure a spot in the Istanbul final without needing extra goals beyond the regulation 90 minutes. The mathematics are straightforward, but the execution demands discipline, organization, and a willingness to absorb pressure while hunting for counterattacks.
Ultimately, the path to Istanbul rests on Inter’s ability to maintain the two-goal cushion while denying Milan’s offensive threats. The result from the second leg will decide whether the Nerazzurri wrap up a place in the final, or Milan overturns the deficit in a dramatic fashion. The tie remains a tactical chess match, with both teams aware of what each outcome would mean for ambition, momentum, and pride in a city that lives and breathes football. [Goal]