It is no surprise that the Derby della Madonnina between AC Milan vs Inter Milan is one of the most anticipated matches in Italian football. The San Siro saw a huge demand for tickets to the first leg of this season’s UEFA Champions League semifinals.
San Siro is the largest stadium in Italy with a capacity of 76,000 seats. According to reports, the sheer number of tickets requested for this match could have filled up the venue 26-fold. This is 1,976,000 seats!
The high demand for tickets is testament to the passion of the two Milanese clubs’ fans. The rivalry between the two clubs is intensified by the fact that they share the same stadium. The rivalry isn’t just about bragging right, but also about getting to the finals of the Champions League – a competition both clubs have won numerous times.
Inter Milan won the first half of the semi final thanks to goals by Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan . The Nerrazzurri initially controlled the game. AC Milan, on the other hand struggled to create meaningful chances. They will need to up their game to overcome the deficit next weekend.
Will Rafael Leao be starting in the second leg of the race?
The first leg of AC Milan’s semi-final Champions League match against Inter Milan was played without the talismanic Rafael Leao. Rossoneri missed him as they struggled with pressure relief and had to defend waves after waves of blue shirts advancing forward, particularly in the first-half.
Due to Leao’s absence, manager Stefano Piolo changed the structure of the team. Rade Krunic started with Sandro Tonali and Brahim Diaz in a five-man middle. They still struggled against Inter’s marauding flankers. Rafael Leao will be available for the second match on May 16. This is a great boost for Milan and its fans.
Both teams will be fighting to the death to get to the final in the second half of the semi-final. San Siro’s future, as the home to both clubs for more than 90 years, is at risk. The match will be an ode and celebration of Italian football’s rich history, as well as a tribute to the iconic San Siro.
