UCL: Inter rule the city! Two Roma rejects put the Nerazzurri close to the final

Two former Roma discards starred in the UEFA Champions League semi-final! It sounds crazy, but crazy happens every week in Italian football. Old boys Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored two early goals to give Inter a well-deserved 2-0 win over Milan on Wednesday night. Two bitter rivals from the city of Milano served up a delicious European game, after which the black-and-blues will be a lot happier.

It was a big occasion at the San Siro - and a big money maker for the seven-time European champions Milan. This was the highest-grossing football match in the history of Italian football: Milan received a total of $11.5 million from the 75,532 spectators. The average ticket price of around $150 didn't deter the fans. But the record could be broken in just six days at the same ground.

Edin Dzeko reacted like a true experienced master and diverted a corner into the net whilst tussling with Milan captain Davide Calabria. The Bosnian veteran stuck out his left foot and applied a terrific touch to leave Mike Maignan rooted to the spot.

Just three minutes later, Milan's shock turned into bewilderment. Nicolo Barella escaped down the left and sent a ball onto the D for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The former Manchester United and Roma midfielder took a touch before slamming a rasping effort down the middle and above the diving Maignan. With less than a quarter-hour of play, the 'visitors' were ahead by two.

Milan were all over the place and could have been in even more trouble just a few minutes later when Mkhitaryian was unlucky to hit the post.

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Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano pointed to the spot after Simon Kjaer had apparently brought Lautaro Martinez in the box, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. Lautaro was guilty of diving, which was utterly terrible from the Argentine. He had a clear passage to the goal, but he chose to cheat.

Stefano Pioli looked lost on the touchline as his players struggled to hold the ball and mount any kind of meaningful attack.

Dzeko came very close to extending the Nerazzurri's lead shortly after the break when Milan defence snoozed yet again, but Maignan got down and produced a great last-ditch save with his leg.

The home team had the most of the ball possession after the break - as it was expected as Inter kept retreating. Sandro Tonali looked destined to half the deficit with just over an hour of play gone, but his low shot from the edge of the area clipped Andre Onana's right-hand post and went out.

Leao signs! Two million just for the signature and another $35 million over five years

Pioli sent Divock Origi on for Alexis Saelemaekers in desperate search of a goal. The lad with Kenyan roots has a history of turning Champions League ties around, after all. But tonight wasn't the red-and-blacks' night.

The return leg will be played next Tuesday. Milan might have Rafael Leao fit for that game, but either way they will have to do much better if they want to make the UCL final. As things stand, Inter are much closer to the Istanbul showpiece.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semi-final, first leg

Tuesday

Real Madrid - Man.City 1-1 (1-0)

/Vinicius 36 - De Bruyne 68/

Wednesday

Milan - Inter 0-2 (0-2)

/Dzeko 8, Mkhitaryan 11/

Semi-final, second leg

Tuesday, 16 May

22.00: Inter - Milan

Wednesday, 17 May

22.00: (1.65) Man.City (4.10) Real Madrid (5.80)

***odds are subject to change