Reaction as Inter take big advantage against AC Milan in Champions League

All five of Fedrico Dimarco's Champions League assists this season for Inter have been at the San Siro, the most by a player at a stadium in a season since James Milner assisted six at Anfield in 2017-18.

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli told Prime Video: "We need to take the positives from the second half. We had chances to get back in it. In the second leg we need to raise the bar and play more like the second half."

Only one team in Champions League semi-final history have won the first leg by two or more goals and not reached the final, Barcelona against Liverpool in 2018-19.

Uefa's man of the match Henrikh Mkhitaryan told Amazon Prime: "From the very first minute we played with a desire to win. We scored two goals in the first half.

"We controlled the game more in the second half but we won. Great credit to my team-mates but it's not over, we need to prepare as best as we can for the second leg."

AC Milan haven't beaten Inter by two goals or more since January 2016.

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi: "I am very satisfied. We had an extraordinary first half. We could have scored more than two goals, but it was a great match.

"We are ahead, now there will be the return leg at home with our fans. We know that we still have to make a huge effort before we start dreaming.

"The lads played with their hearts and heads, covering every part of the pitch. Even those who came on as sub contributed.

"We're happy, but we're still missing a piece. In 72 hours we have a very important match against Sassuolo in Serie A. We will have to recover, both our physical and mental energy, because in these matches you expend a lot."

AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori is only the third English player to appear in a Champions League semi-final for a non-English club, along with Steve McManaman (Real Madrid) and Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich).

By a random coincidence, Tomori and Hargreaves were both born in the same Canadian city - Calgary, Alberta.

Andre Onana is the first goalkeeper to keep seven clean sheets for Inter in a single Champions League campaign. Julio Cesar and Francesco Toldo managed six each.

Inter have progressed from five of their six two-legged European knockout ties when they recorded a 2-0 away win in the first leg, with the only exception their 1988-89 Uefa Cup last 16 tie against Bayern Munich.

AC Milan have never qualified from this position, most recently going out to Arsenal in the 2017-18 Europa League last 16.

What a privilege it was to be here tonight. To witness one of the most special atmospheres in football was indeed special.

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori to BT Sport: "Obviously disappointed. Just the way we started the game, conceding two early goals like that. The first one from a corner and then straight after. It's difficult when it's 0-0 but to go two goals down in the first 15 minutes is a kick in the teeth.

"It took us a while to get back in the game. There was a bit of anxiety in the team. In a game like this you can't do that.

"It's only the first game. We can't let our heads drop. We know if we play with the right intensity... if we had got the last pass or last shot just a bit more... [with] determination or anger, then we could have scored.

"We're disapointed but we can't dwell on it. We have to move onto the next game."

Asmir Begovic played under Stefano Pioli at AC Milan in a 2020 loan spell, and talked about the manager's emojis before the game.

In case that looked like the most random thing ever.

I'll maybe get a thumbs down emoji from Stefano Pioli tonight. I can't imagine he will be too bubbly.

AC Milan conceded more goals in this game than in all their previous home legs of their six knockout Champions League semi-finals combined (one).

The last time Inter beat Milan three times in a season (not all in different competitions) was 1994-95.

Inter have beaten AC Milan in three different competitions (Champions League, Serie A, Italian Super Cup) in the same season for the first time in their history.

This is the first time AC Milan have ever lost an all-Italian Champions League tie.

They had won three and drawn four of the previous seven (against Inter, Juventus and Napoli).

There has never been an all-Italian game in the Champions League not involving Milan.

Inter Milan goalscorer Edin Dzeko to BT Sport: "It feels very good, especially because it's a derby. We played away on paper. It's a great result for us.

"Sometimes you get in this difficult moment where the ball doesn't want to go in. Patience and work always pays off. I was calm knowing the goals would come as always. Today is the proof.

"I don't think so [that they'll get carried away] because we're an experienced team. We know what we've done today. We have got a great result but nothing is yet finished. In the Champions League only great teams arrive in the semi-finals so we have to be careful and concentrate like today."

On their approach to the second leg: "Not to think about the first leg. They play only on paper an away game but it's also a home game for them with our fans. We have to be careful. They're stll a good team."

There's every chance one of these teams won't even be in the Champions League next season.

AC Milan are fifth with four games to go in Serie A.

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