The San Siro is known as “La Scala del Calcio” for good reason.
The ground, affectionately compared to Milan’s “Scala” theatre – “The Theatre of Football” – is an architectural treasure, with cylindrical limbs rising from the featureless landscape like flying buttresses, framing a cathedral for devoted football pilgrims.
The interior best bears comparison to the famous opera house across town, with steep stands staring down at a stage fit for two of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
For years, though, the peeling paintwork on the outside has reflected the faded grandeur of the teams playing inside.
Until now. On Wednesday, AC Milan and Inter will no longer be performing a chorus role. The gaze of the world will be on San Siro when they take centre stage to commence battle for a place in the Champions League final.
The Milanese football renaissance kicked off with back-to-back Inter and Milan Serie A titles going into this season, but there was no expectation that domestic improvement would herald a push for European silverware last won by Inter in 2010 and Milan three years earlier.
Another bid for Serie A glory was a far more achievable target but Napoli’s runaway success, and the Milanese sides’ ongoing scrap for a top-four finish, have left Europe as the barometer by which this season will be judged. It’s make or break time.
Corriere dello Sport’s headline on Tuesday pointed to the ongoing pressure being applied to the two coaches. “Pioli-Inzaghi, Europe can save you,” it read.
Only time will tell if that rings true. Failure to qualify for the Champions League next season could have huge repercussions not just for the coaches, but for finances and squad building.
For the next week, however, such concerns will be laid aside.
“The atmosphere of collective euphoria and hysteria has cancelled out any other reflections on the present and future of the two teams,” wrote La Repubblica.
Milan’s title defence fell apart in calamitous fashion at the turn of the year when they suffered a humiliating run of five defeats in six games, including two to Inter. Pioli managed to get things back on track, but his side remain two points behind their rivals in fifth.
The Nerazzurri began the campaign tipped as Scudetto favourites, but have instead been plagued by inconsistency, losing 11 league games. It’s a return so poor that Inzaghi is expected to depart this summer despite impressive cup form – Inter won the Supercoppa and will face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia this month.
The biggest talking point ahead of the first leg is the fitness of Milan star Rafael Leao, who trained separately on Tuesday after picking up a muscular injury in a 2-0 win over Lazio at the weekend.
Leao is so important to Pioli’s side that former striker Christian Vieri said “they lose 50 per cent” without him.
“He’s the only one who can change a game on his own,” Vieri added – a comment backed up by Leao’s starring role in the quarter-final win over Napoli.
Inzaghi has the opposite problem. He must decide whether to stick with tried and trusted Edin Dzeko as Lautaro Martinez’s partner, or back a revived Romelu Lukaku.
The on-loan Chelsea striker has struggled for form and fitness all season, but he struck a fine goal in a 2-0 win over Roma on Saturday, his third in three league games, and has been a key man in the five-match winning run Inter are on ahead of the first leg.
That form has made Inter slight favourites in many peoples’ eyes, but Milan were underdogs against Napoli too and the seven-time European champions boast enviable pedigree in this competition.
The Rossoneri have never lost to a fellow Italian side in the Champions League, and won their two previous knockout ties against Inter, in 2002-03 (semi-final) and 2004-05 (quarter-final).
Inter may have had the more recent success in the competition, but the red and black shirts are soaked in European heritage; this is their 13th Champions League semi-final, and they have won eight of the last nine.
Both the formbook and recent history favour the Nerazzurri. Milan have just two victories in their last six games and Inter beat their rivals twice in two weeks earlier this year without conceding.
But as Claudio Marchisio said: “Milan have the Champions League in their DNA, even if their squad is inferior to Inter.”
It couldn’t be more finely balanced. An entire season is on the line. Inzaghi perhaps said it best: “This isn’t a derby, it’s the derby.”
Get ready for footballing opera at La Scala del Calcio.
AC Milan
By Layton Ryan-Parson
League position: 5th – Milan won Serie A in 2021-22 but failed to win bac-to-back Scudettos, a feat that they have not done since 1994
Route to the semi-final: Finished second in Group E, beat Tottenham 1-0 on aggregate and then overcame Napoli 2-1 aggregate
Last domestic and European successes: Serie A champions 2021-22, Champions League winners 2006-07
Manager: Stefano Pioli. The Italian has never played or managed outside of his home country, coaching the likes of Bologna, Lazio and even Inter during the 2016-17 season
Captain: Davide Calabria. The 26-year-old made his way through the Milan academy making his debut against Atalanta in May 2015. He has appeared for the club 170 times
Top scorer: Rafael Leao (15 goals). The Portuguese is one of football’s most exciting young talents, attracting interest from Europe’s top clubs
Inter Milan
League position: 4th – After finishing second last season, Inter hoped to challenge for the title this time around but instead find themselves racing to secure Champions League football
Route to the semi-final: Finished second in Group C, beat Porto 1-0 on aggregate before beating Benfica 5-3 on aggregate
Last domestic and European successes: Serie A champions 2020-21, Champions League winners 2009-10
Manager: Simone Inzaghi. Before his spell in Milan he managed Lazio, the club for whom he played 133 times in his senior career
Captain: Samir Handonovic. The shot-stopper has served the Nerazzuri for nearly 11 years, racking up 378 appearances for the club
Top scorer: Lautaro Martinez (25 goals). The World Cup winner has amassed 169 appearances for Inter Milan scoring 77 times
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