UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023, AC Milan vs Inter Milan Preview: Will the real Milan please stand up?

UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2023 semi-finals: After a thrilling first match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, which ended in a one-all draw, it's time for the second all-Milan semi-final match in the UEFA Champions League.

The match is set to be one of the fiercest ones, as both teams have been the most hated rivals in world football. Italian clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan will be facing each other in a Milan Derby in the second semi-final of the UEFA Champions League. The match will be played at San Siro, which is the home ground for both clubs. For this match, AC Milan is designated as the home team.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023, AC Milan vs Inter Milan: Match Timing

The match is scheduled to be played on Thursday, May 11th, at 12:30 AM IST. 

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023, AC Milan vs Inter Milan: Last Milan Derby in UCL

The last time they met each other at this stage in the UEFA Champions League was back in the 2002–03 season, where the match ended in a 1-1 draw (aggregate 1-1). AC Milan won the match on away goals, a rule that has been stripped off since the 2021–2022 season.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023: AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Head-to-Head Record in UCL

This will be the fifth time that these inter-city rivals will face each other in the UCL. AC Milan has been the dominant team in the previous four encounters. They have drawn two and won two. Inter Milan has never been able to win a match against its neighbour in the Champions League. However, this season, in all competitions, Inter Milan has managed to defeat AC Milan on two of the three occasions while losing one.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023 - AC Milan vs Inter Milan: Current Form

Currently, AC Milan is on a nine-match unbeaten streak — winning four and drawing the other five games so far this season. Inter Milan, on the other hand, has won five of its last five matches and lost only once in its last ten games played in all competitions.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023: AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Injury List

AC Milan is in a bad position as one of their crucial players, the Portuguese winger Rafael Leao, is out injured, and is doubtful to start the match. Besides that, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also been ruled out of the game. 

Inter, on the other hand, has its own set of problems. Their Slovakian defender Milan Škriniar, German wing-back Robin Gosens, and Brazilian midfielder Dalbert have been totally ruled out for this fixture. 

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023 - AC Milan vs Inter Milan: Squads, Playing 11

In the starting lineup for Milan, it is expected that their manager, Stefano Pioli, will consider a formation of 4-2-3-1. French shot-stopper Mike Maignan will start at the goal. At the defence, there will be Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjær, with Theo Hernández and Davide Calabria as the full-backs. Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunić will be playing as holding midfielders. Alexis Saelem­aekers, Ismaël Bennacer, and Brahim Díaz will be playing in the midfield, creating chances for the lone striker up top, Olivier Giroud.

For Inter, manager Simone Inzaghi will likely play a 3-5-2 formation. He will have Cameroonian international André Onana between the sticks. Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, and Alessandro Bastoni will likely form the defensive back three. With D. Dumfries and F. Dimarco as the wing-backs, the midfield will have N. Barella, M. Brozović, and H. Çalhanoğlu. Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku will be starting up top.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals 2023: AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Stefano Pioli vs Simone Inzaghi

Inzaghi always had the upper hand whenever his teams have played against teams managed by Pioli. His teams have nine out of the 18 games played against Pioli's teams. Pioli has managed to win just five games and drawn four of the other nine.