Inter Milan v AC Milan Preview, Odds, Predictions (May 16)

Initial Thoughts

It’s advantage Inter after a surprise first leg that saw AC Milan blown apart the San Siro last week. But could the return of Rafael Leao give the Rossoneri a glimmer of hope ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final second leg?

The Narrative

It certainly wasn't the tight catenaccio game that everyone was expecting, and the designated home team didn't seem to enjoy any first leg advantage whatsoever.

Instead AC Milan became only the third side in history to go two goals down inside 12 minutes in a Champions League semi-final, and Stefano Pioli’s men now have a mountain to climb on Tuesday night.

It’s the third time in a row that Milan have fallen to their city rivals, after a 1-0 loss in Serie A and a 3-0 defeat in the final of the Supercoppa Italiana.

Never before have the Rossoneri lost four consecutive matches against Inter, so tonight could be especially galling if the designated away side are unable to turn this game around.

Crucial to that could be the return of last year’s Serie A player of the season Rafael Leao, who should play some part after just about recovering from a thigh injury.

Leao scored twice the last time AC Milan overcame their city rivals, in a 3-2 win at the San Siro back in September.

Milan have not lost a game in which Leao has scored this season, so the Rossoneri will have to go all out attack at the San Siro on Tuesday night in the hope of getting quickly back into this fixture.

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Nuts and Bolts

The combined age of Inter’s two goal scorers from the first leg was 71 (!!) after 37 year old Dzeko and 34 year old Henrikh Mkhitaryan rolled back the years in the first leg last week.

In fact, Inter have been flying out of the blocks in Europe with Inzaghi’s team going ahead in each of their five UCL knockout matches so far. 

Inter are also on a five match winning streak in Serie A, racking up a total 18 goals in big wins against Empoli, Lazio, Verona, Roma and Sassuolo.

They’ve scored two or more goals in each of their last three Champions League fixtures, but Inter also conceded three against Benfica in a six-goal thriller in the quarter-final second leg.

If AC Milan can find the net early on we could have a game on our hands at the San Siro on Tuesday night. If Inter draw first blood Inzaghi’s can put the game to bed in the first half.

Homestand Picks

All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets

AC Milan have to go all-out attack from the opening whistle and so the value here is with the Rossoneri absolutely pounding the Inter backline:

Rafael Leao anytime goal (+295)

Olivier Giroud over 2.5 shots on target (+112)

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