Fans have reacted with shock after Inter Milan blitzed their local rivals AC Milan in the opening 15 minutes of their Champions League semi-final first leg at the San Siro.
Meeting for the first time in the competition in 18 years, Simone Inzaghi's side made the perfect start as they scored twice early on, first via an Edin Dzeko volley and then a well-worked effort that was finished off by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Playing their 'away' tie first, Inter managed to shut out the noise of the prominently pro-Milan crowd as they tore the hosts inside a chaotic opening period.
Hakan Calhanoglu, himself a former player for Milan, saw his curling effort rebound off the post as Inter went in search of a third, and potentially fatal, goal.
Just 15 minutes before the break, Inter were awarded a penalty after Lautaro Martinez was brought down inside the area by Simon Kjaer. Stefano Pioli's side were awarded a life line after it was overturned following a review on the pitch-side monitor.
Nonetheless, Inter's 11 shots on target in the first half told a story of sheer domination.
Reacting on social media, fans were left shocked at just how poor Milan had started - with some already writing the Rossoneri obituaries.
'Good gosh Inter could so easily be up 3-0,' one supporter wrote. 'Unreal start.'
Another added: 'Inter are flying here man, unreal.'
'Inter Milan are moving crazy,' another wrote, followed by a 'fire' emoji.
Others chose to focus in on the hosts, with Milan having been dealt blow after blow in the lead up to the game and also after it had started.
Key player Rafael Leao, who was so crucial in them navigating their quarter-final tie with Napoli, was ruled out on the day of the game, while influential midfielder Ismael Bennacer limped off with his side 2-0 down on the night, appearing to be in some discomfort with his knee.
'Inter really are ripping apart Milan, who first lost Leao through injury, now see Bennacer go down,' they wrote, 'and even [Mike] Maignan limping. Sandro Tonali has been the only bright start, but Inter, my god.'
'Milan are so finished,' another supporter wrote.
'Milan fully on the ropes,' another noted.
While another posted along similar lines, writing: 'AC Milan are finished.'
'Good lord, Milan is (sic) in huge trouble,' another wrote.
sababntuz
1
I don’t get why people are surprised. Didn’t people not watch the SuperCoppa Italia final in Riyadah. 4-0. We do this milan. People need to stop undermining, underestimating, undervaluing Inter Milan. We have always been the better team on paper and we are stronger then milan who have a young squad. There is gentlemen in this Inter squad that age like fine wine. To name a few I can say the two goal scorers tonight Dzeko and Mickitaryan bought from Roma for a combined fee of 0 bucks spent as they were free transfers. Both are aging like fine wine wine yet their age majority to some is deemed retirement stage. Ever running stamina gunning Darmian was a great pickup from Parma. Acerbi should be signed permanently from Lazio. Lastly Brozovic the Croat Brozat and Samir “Onana is my heir” Handanovic. This was a game of Men vs Boys The time you guys finally get it into your thick skull that Milan is indeed 🖤💙, you will realise that life is better #forzainter
if simone inzaghi plays together brozovic,hakan and barella i am sure inter will all remaining matches
Votcdkmrst
0
Real Madrid vs Intermilan final much
LIVERPOOLIAN_INTER
3
I don’t get why people are surprised. Didn’t people not watch the SuperCoppa Italia final in Riyadah. 4-0. We do this milan. People need to stop undermining, underestimating, undervaluing Inter Milan. We have always been the better team on paper and we are stronger then milan who have a young squad. There is gentlemen in this Inter squad that age like fine wine. To name a few I can say the two goal scorers tonight Dzeko and Mickitaryan bought from Roma for a combined fee of 0 bucks spent as they were free transfers. Both are aging like fine wine wine yet their age majority to some is deemed retirement stage. Ever running stamina gunning Darmian was a great pickup from Parma. Acerbi should be signed permanently from Lazio. Lastly Brozovic the Croat Brozat and Samir “Onana is my heir” Handanovic. This was a game of Men vs Boys The time you guys finally get it into your thick skull that Milan is indeed 🖤💙, you will realise that life is better #forzainter