AC Milan vs. Inter Milan: Three key battles to look out for in Champions League semi-final

Having been drawn together for just the third time in the competition's history, Italy are guaranteed to have a representative at the showpiece occasion in Istanbul next month.

Despite underwhelming seasons domestically where Napoli have run away with the Scudetto, the previous two Champions of Italy are still battling for a place in the top four.

On the continent though, the two have been fantastic, with Stefano Pioli masterminding a win over Napoli in the last round, while Inter beat an impressive Benfica side.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at three key battles to look out for on the pitch in Wednesday's Derby della Madonnina at San Siro.

Rafael Leao vs. Denzel Dumfries & Matteo Darmian

After a difficult start as Milan made a poor title defence this season, Rafael Leao has come to life again in 2023 and played arguably the most important role in Milan's run to the semi-finals.

Keeping the current Serie A MVP quiet is something that runaway league champions Napoli failed to do on three occasions over the past two months, as Leao scored twice in their 4-0 win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, before the Portuguese wide man set up both goals across the two legs for Milan in their quarter-final.

Leao has completed 37 dribbles in the Champions League this season, as many as the iconic Kaka managed in the entire of the 2004-05 campaign when Milan reached the final.

Therefore, it would be no surprise to see Simone Inzaghi ask Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian to double up on Milan's star man, with the Dutchman's usual marauding nature at right-wing back potentially being affected by Leao coming the other way.

On top of that, Leao has a phenomenal attacking talent playing behind him in the form of Theo Hernandez, so Darmian, who has been the unsung hero of Inter's run, especially away to Porto, may have his hands full here as the right centre-back.

If Inter can get control of the game though, it may allow Dumfries some freedom to attack, and Leao is unlikely to offer much defensive help to Hernandez, who himself prefers the attacking side of the game.

Federico Dimarco vs. Davide Calabria

On the opposite flank is another very intriguing battle between one of Europe's best attacking wing-backs and one of its best defensive full-backs.

Federico Dimarco is having a sensational campaign, and his tally of four open-play assists in the Champions League this season is the highest of any player.

Dimarco's lung-bustings runs into very advanced attacking positions often causes overloads in the final third, and something which allowed him to get on the scoresheet in Inter's 3-0 win over Milan in the Super Cup earlier this year.

Productivity and efficiency is also another big facet of Dimarco's game, as his deadly crosses create a large proportion of Inter's chances.

Therefore, Davide Calabria will have a tough task on his hands to keep his opposite number quiet, but the Milan captain's ability to keep the seemingly unstoppable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at bay in their tie with Napoli was pivotal.

Since Calabria returned to the side for their 4-0 win at Napoli, Stefano Pioli's side have not been beaten, and it was his display in Naples during their quarter-final second leg that capped off a magnificent team performance.

Mike Maignan vs. Andre Onana

Despite not being a direct battle, whoever is the better of the two goalkeepers is more than likely going to end up on the winning side, given how little there is between the sides heading into this clash.

Both Mike Maignan and Andre Onana are among the most important players for their respective sides, as periods of absence have coincided with poor form for the two sides.

Maignan's absence was felt greatly by the Rossoneri, as it included a run where Milan conceded 12 goals in the space of three games back in January, before his return resulted in clean sheets at Tottenham Hotspur, the quarter-final home leg versus Napoli and in the league at the Maradona, before only conceding a consolation with the last kick of the game in the away leg.

With the legendary figure of Samir Handanovic coming to the latter stage of his career, Inter have found another gem with Onana, whose performance at the Estadio do Dragao against Porto was one of the finest in the competition this season, as his late saves won the last 16 tie for Inter.

Fantastic saves or an uncharacteristic error from either one of these two men could be the decisive moment, so expect either Maignan or Onana to make headlines after the final whistle is blown

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