The rivalry between AC Milan and Inter Milan is one of European football’s most storied clashes, with a history that reads like a dramatic script and a showcase of the city’s two giant clubs. This piece dives into their record in the Champions League and other European competitions, highlighting the moments that have defined this intercity duel.
In the 2022-2023 season, Milan and Inter met in one of the two UEFA Champions League semi finals, a matchup that stirred the hopes of both clubs’ supporters. Each side carried the weight of long waits to reach a final in Europe’s premier club competition for more than a decade, making the series not just a national rivalry but a contested chapter in continental history. The stakes were high, the atmosphere electric, and the outcome would shape the legacy of both teams for years to come.
Champions League 2023 final: when it is and where, venue, date, day and time
Historically, the Milan derby has carved a unique footprint in Europe’s most prestigious competition, with dramatic campaigns, memorable goals, and moments of tactical masterclass from both sides. Each season the two clubs arrive with visible resolve: to translate domestic prestige into European glory and to prove that Milan is still a force on the continental stage. The 2023 semi final clash underscored the persistent hunger that defines this derby, where tactical nuance, resilience, and crowd energy converge to produce theatre that resonates far beyond the stadium walls.
How many derbies Milan vs. Inter has been played in the history of the Champions League and in European competitions
Before the 2022/23 campaign, Milan and Inter had faced each other in UEFA Champions League ties on four occasions, all of them in knockout rounds. Those meetings underscored a precise dynamic: Inter, despite being a strong European club, had not managed to claim victory against its city rival in these top-tier clashes. Their encounters in other European competitions had not occurred yet, which kept the focus squarely on the Champions League stage when the two clubs met in recent history.
One notable episode from the 2005 Champions League quarter-final second leg stands out in the lore of this derby. The match was halted in the 71st minute with Inter leading 1-0 after a flare was launched by fans, and one flare tragically struck Milan’s Brazilian goalkeeper Dida. The incident remains a stark reminder of how high emotions run in this fixture and how European nights in Milan can tilt on the balance of passion and precision.
Inter’s first win in the head-to-head European context came in the first leg of the 2022-23 Champions League semi-finals, when Inter hosted Milan at San Siro and emerged with a convincing 2-0 success. The result gave Inter a valuable advantage heading into the second leg, which was to be played a week later at the same venue, with Milan aiming to overturn the deficit on home soil. That sequence highlighted the enduring competitiveness of both clubs and the depth of their European pedigree, even as recent chapters of the rivalry have continued to evolve with every season and every European campaign.
Overall, the series in the Champions League underscores not just the results, but the symbolic weight of Milan versus Inter in Europe. Each meeting has added to a narrative about which club can claim page one of their shared history in continental competition, and both clubs have used these evenings to reaffirm their status among Europe’s elite clubs. The exchanges have also reinforced the importance of Milan’s domestic resurgence translating into European credibility, and they remind fans that in football, the city’s two giants still write chapters that captivate global audiences.
Source: Goal