Milan-Inter 0-0 in the Italian Cup: the first round ends without a goal

It will also be true that the perfect match ends zero to zero, as the Olympian Annibale Frossi said and Gianni Brera repeated, but this is not the case. The 0-0 in the Italian Cup between Milan and Inter was a perfect match, very little. He is the son of the bad form of the two teams and is the faithful mirror of what was offered by ninety-five minutes in the name of what I want but I can’t. The 53,881 of the Meazza go home with a dry mouth: still no clue as to who will challenge the winner of Fiorentina-Juve in the final.

Tribute and play

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Before the start, AC Milan’s initiative as a sign of closeness to the Ukrainian population affected by the war: the word “Peace” on the boards, the yellow-blue flags waved in the stands and printed on the white warm-up shirts of the Rossoneri players (not Inter Milan, who prefers to join only official League initiatives). Then the applause of the whole stadium at the appeal recorded by Andriy Shevchenko. And off we go: the Milan derby in the semi-final of the Italian Cup, as it had only happened in 1985. We go, yes, but with the handbrake on: the tension is felt, the moment in the championship is complicated for both teams and the enthusiasm often prevails over lucidity.

More Rossoneri chances

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The result is a first half full of technical errors, which never allow the pace to take off. A single save by Handanovic on Saelemaekers (preferred to Messias), a few other occasions mainly for Milan. Theo builds the best in the 11th minute, splitting the Inter defense in the center: the shot will not enter his jewels collection. On the other hand, the most dangerous chance happens to Dzeko, anticipated in the detachment from Romagnoli in the middle of the fraction: the Rossoneri captain saves a goal but hurts his left adductor, he will leave the field in Kalulu. And Leao? It takes him some time to light up and struggles to connect with Giroud, then he climbs up: before the interval he gets Brozovic warned and serves a delight for Saelemaekers, who controls badly. Few shine in Inter. Confused Lautaro, strangely off Barella, overwhelmed by Calhanoglu whistles. And Krunic, who would also have the advantage on the right, sticks to Brozovic better than Kessie did in the last Serie A derby.

Handa is there

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The recovery begins with Handanovic’s second save: Leao’s right-footed shot isn’t bad at all, the Slovenian relaxes and puts his hand in it. And he who knows if he would have arrived on Saelemaekers’ right almost from the spot, a moment later, countered by Bastoni after a rare illuminated bank by Giroud. Inzaghi sees Inter suffer and tries the Chilean solution for the final half hour: Vidal and Sanchez in place of Barella and Lautaro. Pioli raises with trio: Diaz, Rebic and Messias for Krunic, Leao (not very happy) and Saelemaekers. He changes a little, even with Correa’s next entry, because everything always runs aground close to the two penalty areas: the poor vein of the finishers generates drought in shots on goal. Triple whistle, 0-0 inevitable. Semifinal entirely to be written in the second leg in April, when the Italian Cup will also say goodbye to the away goals rule. Assuming you see any.