Milan 0-2 Inter: Dzeko & Mkhitaryan quickfire goals secure UCL semi-final lead

Inter Milan took a big step towards reaching the Champions League final as they beat their city rivals in a thrilling Milan derby at San Siro.

In a game that had been anticipated for weeks in Italy and was witnessed at the ground by a vocal and passionate 80,000-strong crowd, Inter made the perfect start when Edin Dzeko volleyed home in the eighth minute.

The goal silenced the Milan fans - the designated home side for this tie in the stadium the two sides share - as they significantly outnumbered the Inter supporters.

And the hosts were stunned further three minutes later when Henrikh Mkhitaryan swept a shot beyond Mike Maignan after being set up by Federico Dimarco.

Hakan Calhanoglu hit the woodwork as Inter threatened to get a third, but there was hope for AC Milan when referee Jesus Gil Manzano reversed a decision to award the visitors a penalty, deeming Lautaro Martinez to have dived after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Inter dropped their tempo in the second half as they looked to protect their two-goal advantage and it almost presented AC Milan with a lifeline as Sandro Tonali struck the post with a shot from the edge of the box.

But Inter held firm and are in a strong position to reach the final - where they will face either Manchester City or Real Madrid - when the two sides meet again at San Siro for the second leg on Tuesday, 16 May.

Match Events

8' GOAL! Milan 0-1 Inter (Dzeko)

11' GOAL! Milan 0-2 Inter (Mkhitaryan)

17' CLOSE! Calhanoglu's long shot hits the bar

23' Dzeko's shot wide out

32' Lautaro goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!

51' Messias' shot wide out

53' CLOSE! Dzeko's shot stopped

63' CHANCE! Tonali hits the bar

Line-ups

Milan XI: Maignan, Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Theo, Krunic, Tonali, Bennacer, Saelemaekers, Giroud, Brahim Diaz

Subs: Mirante, Nava, Ballo, Rebic, Kalulu, Origi, Thiaw, Messias, Pobega, Gabbia, De Ketelaere

Inter XI: Onana, Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Lautaro, Dzeko

Subs: Handanovic, Cordaz, Gagliardini, De Vrij, Gosens, Correa, Bellanova, Asllani, D'Ambrosio, Zanotti, Brozovic, Lukaku