Champions League Semi-finals 2nd-Leg Recap

The second leg of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League took place this week and there are many intriguing aspects to examine and discuss. With the final confirmed, there will be a lot of excitement for the upcoming clash between Inter Milan and Manchester City, with both teams eager to prove their ambitions in the event.

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The second leg of the semifinals reveals much about the teams that made it to the final and their strategies for success. Let’s dive in.

Inter Milan 1 – AC Milan 0

AC Milan faced a daunting task to overturn the two-goal deficit from the first leg of the semifinals. The seven-time UEFA Champions League winners had conceded early in the first match, leaving them with a huge challenge in the second one. Despite their fierce rivalry with Inter Milan, they could not find enough inspiration to stage a comeback.

On the other hand, Inter played with confidence and calmness, knowing they were close to reaching the final. They neutralized AC Milan’s main attacking threats and forced their goalkeeper, Frenchman Mike Maignan, to make some brilliant saves. The balance of the match was clearly in Inter’s favor.

The decisive goal came from Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez, who has been vital for Inter Milan over the years. He scored the match’s only goal and took the Italian giants to their first UEFA Champions League final since their legendary 2010 treble with Jose Mourinho as their manager. And now they face their biggest test in more than a decade.

Incredible reflexes from Maignan 🧤@TurkishAirlines || #UCLsaves pic.twitter.com/WTRbxUE0zK

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 16, 2023

Manchester City 4 – Real Madrid 0

Manchester City were the favorites to win the second leg, but few expected them to thrash Real Madrid so convincingly. The Spanish giants failed to threaten City in the second leg and looked lackluster throughout, with stars like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Karim Benzema, who had been instrumental in their success in the past decade, showing signs of decline.

City showed their quality and determination in the first thirty minutes, when attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva scored two goals, effectively sealing their place in the final. Real Madrid have a reputation for staging comebacks, but this time Carlo Ancelotti’s team seemed powerless to change the course of the game.

Vinicius Jr., who is often their most dangerous attacker, was contained by City’s tight marking, which left Madrid without much pace or creativity. An own goal by Eder Militao and a late strike by Julian Alvarez completed a historic result for Man City.

Álvarez, Bernardo Silva or Lautaro? 🤔

Pick your goal of the week 👇 #UCLGOTW || @Heineken

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 17, 2023

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— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 18, 2023