Preview: AC Milan vs. Inter- Prediction and Team news

A massive clash awaits in tonight's second Champions League semi-final as the two Milan teams face off at San Siro. Both teams are battling to secure a spot in the top 4 of Serie A, with Inter currently sitting in 4th place and AC Milan in 5th. Both clubs have a rich history in the tournament, with Inter having won 3 titles and AC Milan having won 7. However, it has been many years since one of the Italian giants claimed victory, with the last triumph occurring in 2010 when Inter defeated Bayern Munich in the final. 

It is two teams that know each other extremely well, so it appears likely to be a tactical affair with few goals, as neither team dares to fully open up for fear of losing the match. Italian football is known for its strong defensive play in crucial matches, so it is very possible that individual actions from either Rafael Leao or Lautaro Martinez will decide the game. One thing is certain, and that is that we will have an Italian team in the final for the first time since 2017, when Juventus lost to Real Madrid.

Last five meetings between AC Milan and Inter: 
1-0: Inter vs. AC Milan
0-3: AC Milan vs. Inter
3-2: AC Milan vs. Inter
3-0: Inter vs. AC Milan
0-0: AC Milan vs. Inter 

AC Milan’s Champions League form:
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AC Milan’s form in all competitions:
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Inter’s Champions League form:
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Inter’s form in all competitions: 
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Team News: 
Tommaso Pogeba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are definitely out with injuries for this match. The big question mark for Stefan Pioli is whether star player Rafael Leao will be fit for tonight's game after he had to be substituted against Lazio due to an injury. It would be a significant loss for AC Milan as Leao is their most creative player, and his qualities could determine whether they make it to the final or not.

AC Milan’s expected lineup: 
Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Kjaer, Hernandez; Tonali, Krunic; Diaz, Bennacer, Saelemaekers; Giroud

Defensive general Milan Skriniar and Robin Gosens are out with injuries, while D'Ambrosio is doubtful but expected to be ready for tonight's match. One small question regarding the starting lineup is whether Dzeko or Lukaku will be the second striker alongside Lautaro Martinez, but considering Lukaku's current form, it seems likely that he will get the chance in tonight's starting lineup.

Inter’s expected lineup:
Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Lukaku

Key stats: 
-    AC Milan have conceded just one goal in their last six CL semi-finals 
-    AC Milan and Inter have already faced each other three times this season
-    Inter has won the last two meetings against AC Milan
-    Inter has two consecutive clean sheets in their last two games against Milan

Player profiles:
If Rafael Leao plays, he will undoubtedly be the standout player for AC Milan tonight, but it seems likely that he will start on the bench. The creative aspect will therefore have to come from Brahim Diaz, and it is even doubtful whether he will be in the starting lineup. Olivier Giroud will be the man tasked with scoring goals for Milan, and he will be crucial to their offensive play, as he has a reputation for scoring in important matches. 
On the other hand, Lautaro Martinez is having one of his better seasons for Inter, and his relentless work rate and goal-scoring ability can pose a challenge for Milan's defense, especially considering they also need to keep an eye on Lukaku.

Prediction:
This smells like a tactical affair with few goals, as Italian football is known for. If AC Milan doesn't have Rafael Leao available, it's hard to see where their offensive creativity will come from, and they will likely focus on staying solid defensively. We actually believe that both teams would be okay with a draw, as it keeps the suspense alive for the decisive match. 

Therefore, we predict that tonight's game will end in a draw, with odds of 3.10