The first leg of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League semi finals offered a lot in the clash between two European juggernauts and a historical derby that was missed for 18 years at this stage. The results secured do not guarantee an early advantage for any side going into the second leg, however, Manchester City's 1-1 draw against Real Madrid to take to Etihad and Inter’s splendid 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Milan will say otherwise. It is certain next week will be equally dramatic to decide the finalists going to Istanbul next month.
In the tantalizing battle, defending Premier League champions started on their usual high note not letting the Champions League holders settle on the ball with their possession game and flurry of early attacks. The home side’s keeper Thibaut Courtois made sure the visitors don’t take an early lead by saving shots restricted only to the outside of the box. However, Real Madrid’s plan to hit the opposition on the break dazzled on this stage again as they got on the scoresheet through Vinicius Jr’s rocket finish past Ederson in the 36th minute with a shift transition, remarkably from their first shot of the match. City were rocked but not wounded as they got back in the match in the second half with Kevin De Bruyne’s thunderbolt. The goal did have a controversial touch to it after Bernardo Silva seemed to have played the ball already out of the field before Eduardo Camavinga misplaced his pass to create the opportunity taken by the Belgian.
The occasion of having the first Milan derby in Europe for nearly two decades created one of the best atmospheres seen in a Champions League night at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Ultimately, it is the Nerazzurri that triumphed 2-0 on the evening in the first one of the two special derbies to take an early step to the final in Istanbul next month. Inter scored the goals within 11 minutes of the match leaving Milan scrambling for answers. Edin Dzeko scored from a corner with an emphatic volley past Mike Maignan in the eighth minute of the match before the former Lille keeper was undone again by his defense as Henrikh Mkhitaryan made a surging run in the box to finish off an excellent cross by Federico Dimarco. Hakan Calhanoglu threatened to make it three only moments after with his long-ranger crashing off the upright. Sandro Tonali also hit the post in the response from the Rossoneri in the second half but the home side of the evening failed to take anything for the second leg.
21 unbeaten
Manchester City have now extended their unbeaten streak to 21 games in all competitions. Of them, 17 wins and four have been draws. The last three draws of the four in that run have come in the away games of the Champions League, all ending in 1-1. This was their fifth meeting with Real Madrid in competitive games.
First-ever
7/14 - Seven of Kevin De Bruyne's 14 UEFA Champions League goals have come from outside the box. Since he joined Man City in the 2015-16, it's the highest percentage anyone has scored from distance in the competition (50% - min. 10 goals). Bullet. pic.twitter.com/3NpumnjJqC
Kevin De Bruyne is now the first-ever player to score in a separate Champions League knockout stage match against Real Madrid after also scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 2019/20 season. That time it was the first leg of the last-16 stage with the Belgian scoring the late winner from the spot in the 2-1 victory.
Same to same
With a cracking opener in the game, Vinicius Jr has contributed to 22 goals in his last 22 Champions League matches scoring 11 of them and providing 11 more to his teammates. The Brazilian has scored seven goals in 11 appearances this season, three more than he has managed in entire last campaign.
One to Three
3 - Internazionale have beaten rivals Milan three times in all competitions in a season (once in the Supercoppa Italiana, once in Serie A, once in the UEFA Champions League) for the first time since the 1994-95 campaign. Bragging. pic.twitter.com/DCzYtYGJVG
This is the first victory for Inter in the Milan derby over their rivals AC Milan in the fifth meeting in Europe. It is also the first time in history the Nerazzurri have triumphed in three Derby della Madonnina in three different competitions, keeping a clean sheet in all of the matches since 1980.
Seven heaven
Andre Onana became the first Inter goalkeeper to keep seven clean sheets in a single Champions League campaign beating Julio Cesar’s tally of six in the 2009-10 season under Jose Mourinho. He has kept 18 in total this campaign and has the chance to keep a fourth consecutive clean sheets against Milan next week.
