Advantage for the Nerazzurri: Inter Milan can dream of their first Champions League title in 13 years thanks to former Bundesliga players Edin Dzeko and Henrich Mkhitaryan. Coach Simone Inzaghi's team deservedly won the emotional first-leg derby in the semi-finals against arch-rivals AC Milan 2-0 (2-0) and thus secured a good starting position for a place in the final. Dzeko (8') and Mkhitaryan (11') caused frenetic celebrations from the Inter fans at the Stadio San Siro with their early goals. The decision will be made in the second leg on 16 May.
Inter got off to a furious start in front of 75,532 spectators at the "Derbissimo" and overwhelmed Milan within a few minutes. After goals from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, another former Bundesliga player, hit the post (16th). An alleged foul penalty for Inter was conceded after the video evidence (31st), Dzeko missed a huge chance to make it 3-0 (53rd).
On the other hand, there was hardly anything to be seen of Milan in the 236th duel between the two traditional clubs, and Stefano Pioli's team could not make up for the absence of attacking star Rafael Leao (adductor problems). The "hosts" did not manage much more than a post shot by Sandro Tonali (63rd). Germany international Robin Gosens was only on the bench at Inter, Malick Thiaw was substituted at Milan in the 59th minute. But the 21-year-old couldn't do anything either.
Inter had gone into the game favored, after all, the Nerazzurri had won the two derbies so far this year, 3-0 in the Italian Super Cup (January) and 1-0 in Serie A (February). And once again, Dzeko and Co. were more active, more biting, faster, and world champion Lautaro Martinez also caused trouble again and again.
Now the fans are also hoping to make it to the grand final on June 10 in Istanbul. Inter last reached the final of the Champions League in 2010, when they also won the title - against Bayern Munich. In the first semi-final, Real Madrid and Manchester City drew 1-1.
Milan will have to improve significantly in the second leg if a series is to last. The two previous derbies in the Champions League - in 2003 in the semi-finals and in 2005 in the quarter-finals - each went to the Rossoneri. But now Inter have everything in their own hands.