AC Milan crush Inter to end treble dream and book Coppa Italia final spot
AC Milan stunned Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium in their semi-final Coppa Italia meeting last night. They drew the first leg, setting the stage for a pulsating derby that delivered.
The struggling Rossoneri put aside their poor league standing to beat their arch-rivals 3-0, ending the Nerazzurri's treble chances.
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It was Milan's third victory over Inter this season after a long streak of losses. The 2024/25 campaign has been disappointing, but the wins over Inter will console them.
Inter dominated proceedings early on, but Milan scored with their first shot on target as Alex Jimenez crossed for Luka Jovic to head home.
The former Real Madrid striker justified his surprise selection with another goal in the second half, stabbing home the ball after it fell kindly to him from a corner.
Inter had an excellent chance to pull one back and rattle Sergio Conceicao's side, but captain Mike Maignan pulled off a remarkable save to keep out a Stefan De Vrij header.
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From then on, Milan tried to keep the ball and assemble some passes, leading to the third goal and perhaps the best of the bunch.
A free-flowing move found Rafael Leao at the edge of the box, and he slotted Tijjani Reijnders in. The Dutch midfielder finished expertly for his 15th goal of the season.
Milan are en route to the Coppa Italia final. They will face Bologna or Empoli (more likely Bologna as they hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg).
Milan can finish with two trophies after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign. They beat Juventus to claim the Super Cup after defeating Inter in the semi-final.
Perhaps Conceicao was right when he demanded more respect from the Italian press. The Super Cup and potential Coppa Italia might not save his job, but his reputation remains intact.
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However, it is worth noting that Milan have a checkered history with the Coppa Italia. It has been over two decades since the Rossoneri last touched the title.
Milan have won the trophy five times, well behind Inter (nine) and Juventus (15). They should be rightly wary of Vincenzo Italiano's high-flying Bologna.
As for Inter, they will focus on beating Napoli to the Serie A title and finding a way past Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.
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