Inter Milan reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2010 after beating their cross-city rivals AC Milan 1-0 (3-0 on aggregate) in the semi-finals.
Inter dominated the first leg at San Siro, scoring two early goals through Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and hitting the woodwork twice. Milan had a controversial penalty decision overturned by VAR after Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the box.
The second leg was more balanced, with Milan creating some chances to get back into the tie. Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud tested Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, while Sandro Tonali was lucky to escape a red card for a nasty challenge on Francesco Acerbi.
Inter sealed their victory in the 73rd minute when Romelu Lukaku came off the bench and set up Lautaro Martinez for a clinical finish. Inter celebrated with their fans, who outnumbered the AC Milan supporters at the shared stadium.
Inter will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final in Istanbul on June 10. They will be underdogs against either opponent, but they have shown their strength and resilience throughout the competition.
Their defence, led by Acerbi, is hard to break down, while their attack, featuring Dzeko, Lukaku and Martinez, is fast and lethal. Inter have also benefited from the experience and tactics of their manager Simone Inzaghi.
AC Milan, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance in the derby. They were too nervous and passive in the first leg, and could not find a way to overcome Inter’s advantage in the second leg.
Milan will have to regroup and focus on securing a top-four finish in Serie A, where they are currently fifth.
