Milan sense derby success
Monday, April 11, 2005
Article summary
AC Milan are 90 minutes away from completing a UEFA club competition double over FC Internazionale Milano.
Article body
AC Milan take a two-goal lead into their 2004/05 UEFA Champions League quarter-final encounter against cross-city rivals FC Internazionale Milano, an advantage that leaves them 90 minutes from completing a UEFA club competition double over their neighbours.
Milan and Inter met in the last four of the 2002/03 Champions League where the former triumphed on away goals. The Rossoneri were held to a stalemate in their home tie before a 1-1 draw in the return leg. Andriy Shevchenko scored for Milan in first-half stoppage time before Inter's Obafemi Martins equalised with six minutes remaining. Milan went on to defeat another Serie A team, Juventus FC, in the final, winning 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes.
Milan have played Italian opposition in European competition on two other occasions, first beating UC Sampdoria 3-1 on aggregate in the 1989/90 UEFA Super Cup and then losing 2-1 on aggregate to Parma AC in the same tournament three years later.
Inter have encountered Italian clubs in UEFA competition more frequently. Like Milan, though, Inter have played them either in the final of a UEFA competition or en route to lifting the trophy itself, the only exception being their previous loss to their Milanese rivals.
Inter ousted Atalanta BC 2-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the 1990/91 UEFA Cup before winning the competition at AS Roma's expense. A Lothar Matthäus penalty and a Nicola Berti strike gave Inter a two-goal cushion for the return in the Italian capital, and although Roma won this match, Ruggiero Rizzitelli's 81st-minute effort was not enough to salvage the tie as Inter prevailed 2-1 overall.
Three years later, Inter were again UEFA Cup winners having overcome SV Austria Salzburg 2-0 on aggregate, but only after seeing off Cagliari Calcio in the semi-finals. Cagliari won 3-2 at home in the opening leg despite Inter twice leading through Angelo Orlando and Ruben Sosa. The return was more one-sided, however, as goals from Inter's Dennis Bergkamp, Berti and Wim Jonk secured a 5-3 aggregate success.
The Nerazzurri also defeated S.S. Lazio in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup final with Iván Zamorano, Javier Zanetti and Ronaldo all on target in a 3-0 victory at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
