The first leg of the Champions League semi-final between AC Milan and Inter Milan saw the Rossoneri suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals. In a game that was dominated by Inter, Edin Dzeko emerged as the hero for the Nerazzurri, scoring two goals and providing an assist.
AC Milan struggled to impose themselves on the game from the start, and their defense was constantly under pressure from Inter’s attacking players. Here are the player ratings from the game:
AC Milan:
Mike Maignan – 6/10: The AC Milan goalkeeper had a busy night, making a number of saves to keep his team in the game. However, he was unable to prevent Inter from scoring their three goals.
Davide Calabria – 5/10: The right-back struggled to cope with the pace and movement of Inter’s attacking players, and he was caught out of position on a number of occasions.
Fikayo Tomori – 4/10: The center-back had a nightmare of a game, failing to deal with the threat of Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez. He was at fault for Inter’s second goal, as he gave away possession cheaply.
Simon Kjaer – 5/10: Kjaer was unable to provide any stability to the AC Milan defense, and he was beaten too easily by Inter’s forwards.
Theo Hernandez – 6/10: The left-back was one of AC Milan’s better players on the night, as he provided an attacking threat down the flank. However, his defensive work was also lacking, as he struggled to deal with the runs of Achraf Hakimi.
Franck Kessie – 5/10: The midfielder was overrun by Inter’s midfield, and he was unable to provide any impetus to the AC Milan attack.
Sandro Tonali – 4/10: The young midfielder had a difficult night, as he was unable to cope with the intensity of the game. He was subbed off in the second half.
Alexis Saelemaekers – 5/10: The winger was quiet for much of the game, and he was unable to create any chances for his team.
Brahim Diaz – 6/10: The attacking midfielder looked bright in patches, but he was unable to make a significant impact on the game.
Rafael Leao – 5/10: The striker was isolated for much of the game, and he was unable to get into any dangerous positions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 5/10: The veteran striker was brought on in the second half, but he was unable to influence the game.
Inter Milan:
Samir Handanovic – 7/10: The Inter Milan goalkeeper had a relatively quiet night, but he made some important saves when called upon.
Achraf Hakimi – 8/10: The right-back was a constant threat down the flank, and he provided the assist for Dzeko’s second goal.
Milan Skriniar – 7/10: The center-back was solid in defense, and he dealt with the threat of Ibrahimovic well.
Stefan de Vrij – 7/10: De Vrij was also solid at the back, and he made some important interceptions and tackles.
Matteo Darmian – 7/10: The left-back had a good game, as he provided defensive cover and was also a threat going forward.
Marcelo Brozovic – 8/10: The midfielder controlled the game for Inter, as he provided a shield for the defense and also launched attacks from deep.
Nicolo Barella – 7/10: Barella was also influential in midfield, as he pressed the AC Milan players and won the ball back in dangerous areas.
Hakan Calhanoglu – 6/10: The former AC Milan player had a relatively quiet game, but he was still a threat with his passing and set-piece delivery.
Ivan Perisic – 8/10: The winger was a constant threat down the left flank, and he provided the cross that led to Dzeko’s first goal.
Lautaro Martinez – 7/10: The striker was a handful for the AC Milan defense, and he was unlucky not to score himself.
Edin Dzeko – 9/10: The Bosnian striker was the star of the show, scoring two goals and providing an assist. He was a constant threat to the AC Milan defense, and his finishing was clinical.
Overall, it was a dominant performance from Inter Milan, as they outclassed their rivals in every department. AC Milan will need to produce a much better display in the second leg if they are to have any chance of progressing to the final.
