Here's everything you need to know about the UEFA Champions League semifinalists: key players, rankings, and who to watch. Catch all the action live on SuperSport and Showmax Pro.
KEY DATES: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
Tuesday 9 May
- Real Madrid vs Man City
Wednesday 10 May
- AC Milan vs Inter
Tuesday 16 May
- Inter vs AC Milan
Wednesday 17 May
- Man City vs Real Madrid
Inter Milan (ITA)
- UEFA coefficient ranking: 10
- This season: W5 D3 L2 F16 A10
- Group C: Runners-up
- Round of 16: W 1-0agg vs Porto
- Quarterfinals: W 5-3 agg vs Benfica
- Last season: Round of 16 (L 1-2agg vs Liverpool)
- Best European Cup performance: Winners (1963/64, 1964/65, 2009/10)
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
While Inter have struggled for consistency in Serie A, the Nerazzurri have constantly played well in the Champions League. They managed to qualify from a strong group also including Bayern and Barcelona and have now reached the semi-finals after eliminating Portuguese powerhouses Porto and Benfica. They have put in four solid knockout stage performances, keeping three clean sheets thanks in large part to a series of fine saves from André Onana.
WHY THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY
Because this Inter side seemed designed to produce their best in big games. Just watch their results in all competitions in 2023. The Nerazzurri have recently lost against Empoli, Bologna, Spezia and Monza in Serie A but have beaten Napoli, Milan (twice), Porto and now Benfica. And from now until the final in Istanbul on 10 June the remaining games will only be of two kinds: big or huge.
HOW DO INTER PLAY?
The system is a 3-5-2, where wing-backs are required to cover the entire flank. Unsurprisingly, Simone Inzaghi often replaces them both during games with Matteo Darmian and Robin Gosens good alternative options to Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco. One of the three midfielders is a deep-lying playmaker: when fit, Hakan Çalhanoglu is now preferred to Marcelo Brozovic for this role. The two other midfielders, Nicolò Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, lead the pressing and support the attackers. Romelu Lukaku is still short of his best condition but Inter fans and Inzaghi hope he will soon return to form the lethal 'Lu-La' partnership with Lautaro Martínez.
Coach: Simone Inzaghi
A Serie A and three-time Coppa Italia winner as a player with Lazio, the 46-year-old also brought a domestic cup to Rome during his five seasons in charge. Took over from Antonio Conte in 2021, winning the domestic Super Cup and Coppa Italia in his first campaign at the helm.
KEY PLAYER: LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ
Nicknamed 'The Bull', Martínez ended the 2021/22 campaign with 25 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions – his best haul since arriving in Milan from Racing Club in 2018. Formed a prolific partnership with Lukaku, who returned from Chelsea but did not play much in the first half of the season due to injury. Will the pair return to shine when it counts the most?
Did you know? Inzaghi is only the sixth Inter coach to reach the European Cup semi-finals, and the first since José Mourinho in 2010.
Man City (ENG)
- UEFA coefficient ranking: 1
- This season: W6 D4 L0 F26 A4
- Group G: Winners
- Round of 16: W 8-1agg vs Leipzig
- Quarterfinals: W 4-1agg vs Bayern
- Last season: Semifinals (L 5-6agg vs Real Madrid)
- Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (2020/21)
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
City wasted little time in securing their place in the knockout stage for the tenth successive season, but it wasn't all plain sailing for Pep Guardiola's star-studded ensemble. They needed a spectacular winner from the prolific Erling Haaland to complete the turnaround against Dortmund in September before playing over an hour with ten men in a goalless draw at Copenhagen. After a quiet display in the last-16 first leg against Leipzig, Haaland hit a record-breaking five goals in the return before adding two more to his tally in an emphatic last-eight triumph against Bayern.
WHY THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY
City have one of the game's most astute tacticians, phenomenal strength in depth and one of the best strikers of his generation at their disposal. Why shouldn't they lift the trophy in Istanbul in June? There are no guarantees in a competition where fine margins so often prove decisive, but Guardiola's team fear no one. With Lady Luck on their side, a maiden Champions League crown could be just around the corner.
HOW DO MAN CITY PLAY?
John Stones' role as part of a double pivot in a 3-2-4-1 system has enabled City to exert even greater levels of control when in possession – which is most of the time. Pinning opponents in their own half with a high defensive line, City circulate the ball with trademark ease until the relentless pressure finally tells. Unlike last season, when Guardiola often operated with a false nine, the Cityzens now have arguably the most prolific focal point in the game to finish off their free-flowing moves.
Coach: Josep Guardiola
One of the most decorated coaches in world football, the 51-year-old won this competition twice with Barcelona but will be desperate to end his 12-year wait for a third triumph. Scooped three league titles apiece at the helm of the Catalan club and Bayern, and made it four Premier League winners' medals with City in 2021/22.
KEY PLAYER: KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Haaland would be the obvious choice – 48 goals this season makes him pretty influential, after all – but De Bruyne remains a talismanic figure, contributing a constant supply of chances for the relentless Norwegian. The 31-year-old midfielder has assisted 23 goals in all competitions this term, his most in a single campaign for the club.
Did you know? At 22 years 272 days old and after only 27 games, Haaland was both the youngest and the quickest player to reach 35 Champions League goals.
AC MILAN (ITA)
- UEFA coefficient ranking: 35
- This season: W5 D3 L2 F15 A8
- Group E: Runners-up
- Round of 16: W 1-0agg vs Tottenham
- Quarter-finals: W 2-1agg vs Napoli
- Last season: Group stage (fourth place)
- Best European Cup performance: Winners (1962/63, 1968/69, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1993/94, 2002/03, 2006/07)
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
Milan struggled to cope with Chelsea in the group stage but comfortably secured second spot and a place in the round of 16, picking up wins at San Siro and on the road. The Rossoneri have gone up a gear in the knockout stage, eliminating Tottenham and Napoli while conceding only once in those four games.
WHY THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY
Milan are a fluid, attacking side. They are very flexible and can adapt to opponents, meaning they play to their own strengths but also to their opponents' weaknesses. Add into the mix a fantastic forward like Rafael Leão and an almost unbeatable goalkeeper like Mike Maignan and Stefano Pioli's men are a test for anybody.
HOW DO MILAN PLAY?
A flexible side with an attacking mentality, Milan can build from deep and hit on the break. Their basic systems are 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1, with attacking full-backs, dynamic midfielders and three or four attacking players. Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández combine brilliantly on the left, while defensively the Rossoneri have quick centre-backs and press high to help get the ball forward.
Coach: Stefano Pioli
The former defender has won over doubters at Milan with his calm and relaxed approach since taking over in 2019. Led the Rossoneri into the Champions League after a seven-year absence in 2020/21 and flirted with the Scudetto before steering the club to their first domestic title since 2011 last term.
KEY PLAYER: RAFAEL LEÃO
Milan owe much to Maignan, who was decisive against Spurs and Napoli, but the sky is the limit for their star Portuguese forward, who is time and time again proving himself to be a difference-maker with his elegant running, electric pace and wonderful technique.
Did you know? Milan finished bottom of their Champions League section last season, the first time they had propped up a group since 2000.
Real Madrid (ESP)
- UEFA coefficient ranking: 5
- This season: W8 D1 L1 F25 A7
- Group F: Winners
- Round of 16: W 6-2agg vs Liverpool
- Quarterfinals: W 4-0agg vs Chelsea
- Last season: Winners (W 1-0 vs Liverpool)
- Best European Cup performance: Winners (1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22)
CAMPAIGN SO FAR
It has largely been a case of full-steam ahead. Group F was competitive. The goal Federico Valverde scored to open up the home game against Leipzig will live long in the memory – as will the brilliant display of cold ruthlessness in winning 3-0 at Celtic after Karim Benzema had gone off injured. But the five-star football came at Anfield. To give a side of Liverpool's class a two-goal start and then score five times in 46 minutes was wonderfully entertaining and history in the making. Less spectacular against Chelsea? Yes, but Rodrygo got the job done.
WHY THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY
Because that's what the club exists for. Because this is 'what we do', as everybody – from the groundskeepers to the president via some of the most exciting footballers in the world – would tell you. No club has a more explosive mix of desire, talent, know-how, expectation and 'been here, seen this, done that' than Madrid. Disbelieve them at your peril.
HOW DO REAL MADRID PLAY?
There really hasn't been any change of system or idea this season. Valverde often plays 'in' a front three, particularly in matches where Carlo Ancelotti wants extra help for midfield and at right-back. However, the integration of Aurélien Tchouaméni has been pretty spectacular, Eduardo Camavinga's acceleration has really counted and although Benzema hasn't racked up as many matches this term, his partnership with Vinícius Júnior remains world class. Late goals and impact performances off the bench have become signature.
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
The man who led Madrid to 'La Décima' in 2014 came back for a second spell in charge in summer 2021 and rewrote the history books by becoming the first coach to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League four times. Cruised to the Liga title last season as well for good measure, making him the first coach to win championships in Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain.
KEY PLAYER: VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR
Benzema, not to mention Thibaut Courtois, remains crucial. But when a coach of Ancelotti's savoir-faire, experience and judgement declares that in his No20 he possesses "the most decisive player in the world" who could possibly argue against the idea that Vinícius, this wonderful, mercurial Brazilian forward, is Madrid's key player?
Did you know? Real Madrid became the first side to contest 300 UEFA Champions League matches in the second leg against Liverpool.