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2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Semi-finals
Second leg
Inter Milan v AC Milan
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Milan, Italy
Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Kick-off is at 21h00
AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli admits they need to raise their game in a bid to turn their
UEFA Champions League semi-final tie around against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday, May 16.
The Rossoneri need to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg to reach the final for the first time since 2006-07 when they beat Liverpool 2-1 to lift club football's most coveted trophy.
Early goals from Edin Dzeko (8') and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (11') put Milan on the back foot in the first leg on May 10, although they improved in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net.
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The loss to their neighbours halted a six-match unbeaten run in the competition and was their third defeat in four meetings against Inter this season.
Sandro Tonali caught the eye for Milan in the second half with his driving runs from midfield and he played a delightful through-ball for Junior Messias on 51 minutes before hitting the outside of the left post with a fierce shot in the 63rd minute. The holding midfielder has yet to score in Europe this term but has three assists to his name in 11 appearances.
In team news, the Rossoneri are waiting on scans to determine the extent of the damage to the knee injury suffered by Ismael Bennacer, which forced him off after just 17 minutes in the first leg. Rafael Leao missed the game with a thigh problem and could sit out the return leg as well. Milan Skriniar (back) is considered doubtful for Inter.
Pioli is urging his players to build on their second-half performance in the first leg as he believes they have a chance of getting the better of their arch-rivals next week.
"We played well in the second half but just couldn't get that goal, which would have given us a boost to try and turn it around," the Italian told Milan TV.
"Honestly, it's not that we wanted to just hold on at 2-0 [down]; we wanted to score and take control of the game. We had chances to get back into it. We absolutely need to build on that second half.
"Of course we need to put in a performance with more quality, care, everything. If we want to turn it around, and I think we have a chance, we need to play much better."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Champions League Meetings)
Matches -
Inter Milan - 1
AC Milan - 2
Draws - 2
UEFA Champions League fixtures:
Tuesday, May 16
21h00: Inter Milan v AC Milan
Wednesday, May 17
21h00: Manchester City v Real Madrid
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