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![Edin Dzeko scores](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/F09B/production/_129659516_edindzeko.jpg)
Inter Milan took a big step towards reaching the Champions League final as they beat their city rivals in a thrilling Milan derby at San Siro.
In a game that had been anticipated for weeks in Italy and was witnessed at the ground by a vocal and passionate 80,000-strong crowd, Inter made the perfect start when Edin Dzeko volleyed home in the eighth minute.
The goal silenced the Milan fans – the designated home side for this tie in the stadium the two sides share – as they significantly outnumbered the Inter supporters.
And the hosts were stunned further three minutes later when Henrikh Mkhitaryan swept a shot beyond Mike Maignan after being set up by Federico Dimarco.
Hakan Calhanoglu hit the woodwork as Inter threatened to get a third, but there was hope for AC Milan when referee Jesus Gil Manzano reversed a decision to award the visitors a penalty, deeming Lautaro Martinez to have dived after consulting the pitchside monitor.
Inter dropped their tempo in the second half as they looked to protect their two-goal advantage and it almost presented AC Milan with a lifeline as Sandro Tonali struck the post with a shot from the edge of the box.
But Inter held firm and are in a strong position to reach the final – where they will face either Manchester City or Real Madrid – when the two sides meet again at San Siro for the second leg on Tuesday, 16 May (20:00 BST).
Inter take big step to end long wait
Inter Milan are three times winners of the European Cup or Champions League, but have not reached the final since they last lifted the trophy 13 years ago.
This is the furthest they have been in the competition since then and, despite the intimidating atmosphere created by the overwhelming number of AC Milan fans, they were determined to push on.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi opted for the 37-year-old Dzeko to lead the attack, with Romelu Lukaku on the bench, and it didn’t take long for that decision to be vindicated as the former Manchester City striker steered home a brilliant finish from a corner.
AC Milan knocked Tottenham and Serie A champions Napoli out of the Champions League on their way to the semi-finals but looked capable of being opened up by Inter with every attack and would have been pleased to reach half time just 2-0 down.
They were better after the break but did not manage a shot on target until the 81st minute – a deflected Junior Messias effort – and will need to be much, much better if they are to deny Inter a place in the Champions League final.
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AC Milan
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Squad number16Player nameMaignan
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Squad number2Player nameCalabria
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Squad number24Player nameKjaer
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Squad number23Player nameTomori
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Squad number19Player nameHernรกndez
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Squad number33Player nameKrunic
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Squad number8Player nameTonali
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Squad number10Player nameDรญaz
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Squad number4Player nameBennacer
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Squad number56Player nameSaelemaekers
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Squad number9Player nameGiroud
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Squad number20Player nameKalulu
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Squad number27Player nameOrigi
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Squad number28Player nameThiaw
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Squad number30Player nameJunior Messias
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Squad number32Player namePobega
Inter Milan
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Squad number24Player nameOnana
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Squad number36Player nameDarmian
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Squad number15Player nameAcerbi
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Squad number95Player nameBastoni
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Squad number2Player nameDumfries
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Squad number23Player nameBarella
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Squad number20Player nameรalhanoglu
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Squad number22Player nameMkhitaryan
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Squad number32Player nameDimarco
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Squad number10Player nameLa Martรญnez
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Squad number9Player nameDzeko
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Squad number5Player nameGagliardini
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Squad number6Player namede Vrij
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Squad number11Player nameCorrea
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Squad number77Player nameBrozovic
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Squad number90Player nameLukaku
Line-ups
AC Milan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Maignan
- 2CalabriaSubstituted forKaluluat 82′minutes
- 24KjaerSubstituted forThiawat 59′minutes
- 23TomoriBooked at 64mins
- 19Hernรกndez
- 33KrunicBooked at 45mins
- 8Tonali
- 10DรญazSubstituted forPobegaat 82′minutes
- 4BennacerSubstituted forMessiasat 18′minutes
- 56SaelemaekersSubstituted forOrigiat 60′minutes
- 9Giroud
Substitutes
- 5Ballo-Tourรฉ
- 12Rebic
- 20Kalulu
- 27Origi
- 28Thiaw
- 30Messias
- 32Pobega
- 46Gabbia
- 83Mirante
- 90De Ketelaere
- 92Nava
Inter Milan
Formation 3-5-2
- 24Onana
- 36Darmian
- 15Acerbi
- 95Bastoni
- 2Dumfries
- 23Barella
- 20รalhanogluSubstituted forGagliardiniat 78′minutes
- 22MkhitaryanBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBrozovicat 63′minutes
- 32DimarcoSubstituted forde Vrijat 71′minutes
- 10La MartรญnezSubstituted forCorreaat 78′minutes
- 9DzekoSubstituted forLukakuat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Handanovic
- 5Gagliardini
- 6de Vrij
- 8Gosens
- 11Correa
- 12Bellanova
- 14Asllani
- 21Cordaz
- 33D’Ambrosio
- 46Zanotti
- 77Brozovic
- 90Lukaku
- Referee:
- Jesรบs Gil Manzano
Live Text
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Match ends, AC Milan 0, Inter Milan 2.
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Second Half ends, AC Milan 0, Inter Milan 2.
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Foul by Pierre Kalulu (AC Milan).
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Joaquรญn Correa (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan).
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Attempt saved. Tommaso Pobega (AC Milan) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sandro Tonali.
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Sandro Tonali (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nicolรฒ Barella (Inter Milan).
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Foul by Malick Thiaw (AC Milan).
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Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Divock Origi (AC Milan).
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Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Theo Hernรกndez (AC Milan) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
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Theo Hernรกndez (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan).
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Malick Thiaw (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Roberto Gagliardini (Inter Milan).
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Substitution, AC Milan. Tommaso Pobega replaces Brahim Dรญaz.
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Substitution, AC Milan. Pierre Kalulu replaces Davide Calabria.
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