Inter vs Milan live updates: Champions League semi-final match ...

16 May 2023

The Athletic

Michael Dominski and Noah Murray

May 16, 2023 at 4:28 PM EDT

Inter vs Milan live updates: Champions League semi-final match goalless in second half

Inter and Milan are facing off with a place in the Champions League final at stake.

Inter lead the semi-final tie 2-0 on aggregate.

May 16, 2023 at 4:28 PM EDT

Acerbi stifles Leao

68' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Leao tries to get past Acerbi near the byline, but the 35-year-old is up to the challenge, winning a goal kick.

He turns and raises his arms towards the crowd, pumping them up.

Leao has really struggled to make an impact tonight.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:25 PM EDT

Lukaku joins the fray

66' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Lukaku and Gosens come on, taking the places of Dzeko and Dimarco.

Milan are not pleased with how long the changes take.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:23 PM EDT

First change for Milan

64' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Thiaw comes off the pitch a minute after requiring treatment for a cramp. He's replaced by Kalulu.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:21 PM EDT

Disjointed play

61' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Milan are having trouble creating clear-cut chances, twice sending crosses too deep and out for goal kicks since we resumed action.

Play this half has been characterised by stoppages and the lack of free-flowing moves.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:15 PM EDT

Thiaw booked

56' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Thiaw shoves Lautaro Martinez to the floor to prevent a fast break, and finally earns the first yellow card of this match for either side.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:15 PM EDT

Inter supporters making most of occasion

55' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Inter's ultras have just unfurled another choreography to celebrate 30 years of one of their groups.

Games at San Siro are as much about what happens on the pitch as off it.

(All photos by Getty Images)

James Horncastle

James Horncastle·

Serie A Correspondent

May 16, 2023 at 4:12 PM EDT

Nobody is happy

50' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Lautaro Martinez and Thiaw collide, sending both players to the floor with Lautaro kicking out just a bit as he fell.

The whistle doesn't blow then, but does when Messias dumps Calhanoglu to the floor. Players from both sides appeal to the ref, but we're still waiting for our first booking of this match.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:07 PM EDT

Leao is Milan's best hope

48' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Rafael Leao is thrilling and terrifying when he turns on the jets. The way he glides past opponents is reminiscent of Thierry Henry.

Liam Twomey

Liam Twomey·

Chelsea Correspondent

May 16, 2023 at 4:04 PM EDT

Second half is underway!

46' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

We're back in action at San Siro!

No changes for either side as we resume action.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 4:02 PM EDT

Moment of the half — a big miss

Brahim Diaz’s miss in the 11th minute may prove to be a defining point in this tie.

Sandro Tonali showed great determination down Milan’s left to create a chance which he cut back for the forward on loan from Real Madrid.

Diaz will be reliving that moment in his head if Milan can't push on in the second half. While it wasn't necessarily a simple finish, Andre Onana should not have been able to save the first-time shot with such relative ease.

Milan started the game with great intensity and an early goal could have created a complete momentum shift in the tie.

(All photos by Getty Images)

Noah Murray

May 16, 2023 at 3:59 PM EDT

Player of the half: Mike Maignan

Maignan is proving why he is the new France No 1.

In a half of few moments, the Milan goalkeeper has stood out as the star performer.

The former Lille keeper has made multiple quality reaction saves, without which Milan would surely be out of this tie.

He is excellent at staying up until the last possible moment before reacting, keeping his frame as large as possible.

Most notably, Maignan made an excellent save from Dzeko's flicked header after Hakan Calhanoglu whipped a powerful free kick into the box.

(All photos by Getty Images)

Noah Murray

May 16, 2023 at 3:56 PM EDT

Inter Milan player ratings

Onana: 6 — Not been threatened particularly, looked shaky missing the ball from a Milan cross. Darmian: 6 — Didn’t cover himself in glory when facing off with Leao, otherwise solid. Acerbi: 6 — Good first half performance, dealt well with Giroud. Bastoni: 6 — Impressive on the left side of defense, stepped up well to challenge Diaz after his early threats. Dimarco: 5 — Been pinned in by Milan defensively and not had the chance to get forward. Dumfries: 7 — Been aggressive getting forward, excellent threat, one of the few players that can make Hernandez’s pace look average. Barella: 6 — Covered every blade of grass, good half. Calhanoglu: 6 — Good midfield performance. Mkhitaryan: 5 — Struggled to make an impact before going off injured. Dzeko: 6 — The only player Milan are doubling up on, exemplifies his threat on corners, only had one chance so far which was offside and well saved. Lautaro: 6 — Coming deeper than Dzeko, he has done a good job driving the ball forward.

SUBS:

Brozovic: (N/A)

Noah Murray

May 16, 2023 at 3:53 PM EDT

AC Milan player ratings

Maignan: 8 — Saved well from Dzeko and Barella, very good at staying big and comfortable on the ball. Calabria: 6 — Defended well, Dimarco has had no opportunities to get behind him. Thiaw: 6 — Composed defensive performance. Tomori: 5 — Needs to be careful to avoid Dzeko’s traps. Hernandez: 6 — Good threat offensively, driving Milan forward. Does need to be careful with his defensive positioning. Tonali: 7 — Been aggressive in the attack and assured on the ball. Krunic: 6 — Been solid in possession but needs to do more. Messias: 5 — Doing the defensive side of his game well but struggling to make an impact offensively; needs to sharpen up. Diaz: 6 — Will be disappointed not to have scored but picked up some good positions and looked bright. Leao: 7 — Unsurprisingly the biggest offensive threat, was unlucky not to score after dominating Darmian, though it may have been ruled out for handball had it gone in. Giroud: 5 — Inter have neutralised his threat well, Milan struggling to get people around him.

Noah Murray

May 16, 2023 at 3:49 PM EDT

HT: Inter 0-0 Milan (Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Each side has created a pair of clear-cut chances so far, but neither has found the back of the net.

If Milan can open the scoring in the second half, we could be in for a thrilling finish!

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 3:47 PM EDT

Brozovic & Calhanoglu on pitch together

45' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Mkhitaryan's injury means Calhanoglu reverts to his old role as a free No 8. Brozovic takes the deep-lying playmaker role. This was last year's midfield.

Brozovic's injuries in 2022-23 have led Calhanoglu to reinvent himself to the guy in front of the defence. Ever since, getting the balance right has been tricky when Brozovic and Calhanoglu have played together.

Three minutes are added on to the end of the first half.

James Horncastle

James Horncastle·

Serie A Correspondent

May 16, 2023 at 3:44 PM EDT

Mkhitaryan off injured

43' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Mkhitaryan is forced off through injury. He's replaced by Brozovic.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 3:41 PM EDT

Huge save by Maignan!

39' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Maignan makes an incredible reaction save! Calhanoglu sends a free kick into the Milan box and Dzeko heads it on, forcing Maignan to parry the ball away almost in self-defence.

That saves keeps Milan in this tie for the moment.

Moments later, Lautaro Martinez has a dangerous shot but can't hit the target.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 3:39 PM EDT

Huge chance for Leao!

38' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Leao gets free down the left wing. Acerbi attempts to slow him down but Leao ghosts right past him. He shoots towards the far post from a tight angle, but the ball goes just wide of the post.

What a chance that was! If Milan can get the first goal of this match...

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 3:34 PM EDT

Temperatures rising

32' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Dumfries dives head-first at the ball while Theo Hernandez clears it with his boot. Dumfries hits the ground and clutches his head, though it's not clear much contact was made. Players from both sides converge but nothing further happens.

We're still waiting for the first booking of this match.

Michael Dominski

Michael Dominski·

Live Reporter

May 16, 2023 at 3:29 PM EDT

Tonight's MVPs so far

27' Inter 0-0 Milan

(Inter lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Milan, along with Madrid, is the best derby for goalkeepers. Onana and Maignan have already been crucial.

James Horncastle

James Horncastle·

Serie A Correspondent