AC Milan face uphill task to overturn 2-0 deficit in Champions League semi-final against Inter

AC Milan will have to mount a formidable comeback in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against their cross-city rivals, Inter Milan, as they go into the match trailing 2-0.

The game is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16 at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, with kickoff set for 19:00 GMT.

Despite the daunting task ahead, AC Milan is expected to welcome back their star player, Rafael Leao, from injury.

Inter Milan dominated the first leg of the all-Serie A clash, and with the majority of the fans supporting them, they will be looking to secure a spot in the final.

Inter Milan are expected to have the upper hand in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal clash against cross-city rivals AC Milan, having already beaten them three times this season across three different competitions (Serie A, Supercoppa Italiana and Champions League).

A victory in the upcoming match would mark the second time Inter has beaten Milan four times in one season, having last achieved the feat in 1973-74 in Serie A and Coppa Italia.

Despite AC Milan’s September victory against the Nerazzurri, they have lost their last three meetings without scoring, and their current form is a cause for concern.

While Inter are favorites to win the game, betting on them to win to nil at 12/5 might yield a bigger payout.

Milan face a daunting challenge in the second leg, despite having the option to play the away leg in their home stadium.

In the history of the UEFA Champions League, only one team has managed to advance after losing a semi-final by two or more goals.

However, Milan striker Divock Origi was instrumental in Liverpool’s memorable comeback against Barcelona in the 2018-19 season, scoring twice to help his team win 4-3 on aggregate at Anfield.

Milan are a long shot at 12/1 to qualify for the final, but for those who believe in superstitions, Origi’s heroics could be an omen.

Simone Inzaghi, on the other hand, is likely to have faith in his team’s ability to complete the task at hand.

Inter have not trailed at any point during this season’s Champions League knockout stages, winning three and drawing two games.

They have also kept four clean sheets out of five matches, indicating a strong defensive record.

Townflex Sports takes a closer look at probable lineup for both team ahead of tonight’s clash.

Inter XI (3-5-2): Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez.

Milan XI (4-2-3-1) Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo; Tonali, Krunic; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud.

The victorious team will go on to face either Manchester City or defending champions Real Madrid in the final in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10.

City and Madrid will play their second leg in Manchester on Wednesday, following a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.

Despite Milan and Inter having a combined total of 10 European titles, this year’s Champions League final will mark the first time in 13 years that a team from Milan has made an appearance.

Additionally, the Italian team to have reached the final most recently is Jose Mourinho’s Inter, who claimed the trophy in 2010.