Portuguese star left out of Milan and Belgian striker from Inter gets only substitute role
This week’s second UEFA Champions League semi-final gives us Wednesday’s Milan derby to decide a place in this year’s Istanbul final. Milan host Inter this Wednesday before it is the Nerazzurri’s turn to play next Tuesday with both games at home to the San Siro. Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri overcame Serie A winners Napoli to get here, while Simone Inzaghi’s side edged out Benfica. Whatever happens next, one thing is certain: an Italian team will play in this season’s UCL final. We take a look at the team news ahead of the first leg and the big news is Rafael Leao’s absence due to injury. (Milan Vs. Inter: Champions League line-up, official eleven, team news, Rafa Leão injured; Romelu Lukaku on the bench)
Wednesday Broadcast Schedule
Table of Contents
- UEFA Champions League Today, 2:00 PM, Paramount+ and CBS
- Matching Vs. Inter, 3:00 PM, Paramount+ and CBS
- Tactical Cameras: Milan Vs. Inter, 3 p.m. m., CBS Sports Golazo Network
- UEFA Champions League Post-Game Show, 5 p.m. M., Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network
- How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday, May 10 | Time: 3 pm M. Eastern time
- Location: San Siro — Milan, Italy
- Television: CBS | Live Streaming: Paramount+
- Tactical Camera: CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Odds: AC Milan +205; Draw: +210; Inter +145 (via Caesar Sportsbook)
- Featured Matches | AC Milan Vs. Difference
Milan.
Team news: Olivier Giroud, Theo Hernandez, and Sandro Tonali were called into the starting XI for the win over Lazio after missing the draw with Cremonese and starting from here. Unfortunately, Leo suffers a muscle injury and is completely out. Pioli was always expected to make a late call on the Portuguese star’s fitness and was replaced by Alexis Sellemakers. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not registered for the European competition and Tommaso Pobega is another absentee due to injury.
Milan XI: Mignon; Calabria (C), Cajar, Tomori, Hernandez; Krunik, Tonali; Salemakers, Benesar, Diaz; Giraud.
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Bury
Team news: Lautaro Martinez, Edin Dzeko, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan rested for a win in Rome and return here. Inzaghi has recently used the tried and tested combination of Martinez and Romelu Lukaku, who has ruled out Edin Dzeko, but he returns to the starting XI here with Lukaku on the bench. Milan Skriniar and Robin Goossens are injured but vice-captain Danilo D’Ambrosio has returned from injury to add depth to Inzaghi’s squad as Inter aim to keep them tight ahead of the second leg.
Inter XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Khitryan, Kalhanoglu, Barela, Dimarco; Dzeko, Martinez (c).
Prime Availability
Rafa Leão: The Portuguese star’s unavailability is a major blow for Milan given his importance in knocking out Napoli in the quarter-finals. Leo’s muscle problem was revealed against Lazio and Pioli doesn’t want to risk it with the second leg here. The Rossoneri have given the 23-year-old maximum playing time to prove his fitness, but all offensive hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Olivier Giroud, who often gets the better of Leo. Match chances have been affected in both games and the importance of keeping things close in the first 90 minutes has increased.
