Inter Milan and AC Milan battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Italian Cup semi-final, keeping both teams’ seasonal ambitions alive. Former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu struck a powerful equalizer in the 67th minute, canceling out Tammy Abraham’s opener that came shortly after halftime.
The Derby della Madonnina lived up to its reputation for intensity and drama, with both sides creating opportunities throughout the match. Abraham, who has developed a knack for scoring in important fixtures, broke the deadlock with a well-placed angled shot into the bottom corner after capitalizing on a defensive mix-up involving Inter’s Davide Frattesi.
“I think the result was fair, now we wait for the second leg and have this chance to go to the Final in Rome, which we all really want,” Milan coach Sergio Conceicao reflected with Soccertv365. He praised the supporters, adding: “The players understood what they were supposed to do, it was a balanced match against a difficult opponent where we had to be intelligent defensively.”
For Inter, the draw maintains their pursuit of a historic treble, mirroring their achievement under Jose Mourinho in 2010. Currently leading Serie A by three points over Napoli, the Nerazzurri are also preparing for a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich next week.
AC Milan, meanwhile, view the Italian Cup as a potential salvation for their inconsistent season. With just two wins from their last six league matches leaving them ninth in Serie A, winning the cup would secure European football next season through a guaranteed Europa League spot.
The city rivals will meet again for the decisive second leg on April 23, with a place in the final against either Bologna or Empoli at stake. Bologna established a commanding position in the other semi-final with a 3-0 victory over Empoli.
The return fixture promises to be another captivating chapter in one of football’s most storied rivalries, with both Milan clubs desperate to secure silverware this season.