Inter and AC Milan meet again at the San Siro in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final with the Nerazzurri leading 2-0 from the opening leg. The Rossoneri will hope to have Rafael Leao back for the second leg for any chance of a miraculous rally after the Portuguese star completely missed the first meeting with a muscle injury. He has returned to training ahead of this match. but Simone Inzaghi’s men are well and truly in the box seat for this one, while Stefano Pioli and his players have a mountain to climb.
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With the two of them and fairly comfortable for the second leg, Inzaghi made changes over the weekend and will likely remember Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries and Andre Onana after they rested. Federico Dimarco continued to play with Robin Gosens not yet fully fit and Milan Skriniar is absent for a long time. Joaquin Correa could be doubtful after punching, while Edin Dzeko or Romelu Lukaku are expected to team up with Martinez in attack.
Possible Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko.
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Milan
Junior Messias, Rade Krunic and Ismael Bennacer all missed Spezia along with Leao, and Bennacer’s season is now over due to that first leg injury. Alexis Saelemaekers could replace Leao again, but Pioli’s men missed the Portuguese international and hope that he can play as long as possible. Olivier Giroud should be back on top in place of Divock Origi, while captain Davide Calabria is expected to replace Pierre Kalulu.
Possibly Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Pobega; Diaz, Krunic, Saelemaekers; Giroud.
Main absences
Missing Leao and Bennacer from the start is a potentially big blow for Milan. One is so vital to moving forward thanks to the pace the Portuguese wide man brings, while the other is a source of midfield stability that the Rossoneri may now be missing. Missing one or the other is bad enough, but missing both could cost Pioli’s side more than it already has with a two-goal win to force the tie after 180 minutes, already unlikely before taking into account taken into account the “home advantage” for Inter at their shared home with their Milan rivals.
Tuesday’s broadcast schedule
(All times US/East)
