Italian teams have produced somewhat of a resurgence in Europe this season. AC Milan and Inter will contest a UEFA Champions League edition of the Milan derby in the semi-final. Juventus are also in the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League. Following the progression of the Milan sides to the last four, one will be guaranteed a place in the final. Could an Italian team win the UCL after a 13-year wait for continental glory?
The third Derby della Madonnina in the UCL
Milan and Inter have already met in the UCL knockouts on two prior occasions. In 2002/03 they met in the semi-final where Milan edged past Inter on the away-goals ruling. In the 2004/05 quarter-finals, Milan empathetically defeated their rivals 5-0 on aggregate. Those were the days of Marco Materazzi, Paolo Maldini, Filippo Inzaghi, and co.
The teams are not as star-studded in modern times, but there is still the chance for fresh history to be written. In Champions League bets, Inter Milan is the clear favorite to progress beyond their rivals offered at -138 to qualify for the final. However, the final would present a much bigger task for either side. In Champions League winner odds, Manchester City is the outright favorite at odds of -138. However, whoever wins the other semi-final tie between Real Madrid and City would enter the final as the heavy favorite. The Italians are huge underdogs, but they certainly do not lack European pedigree.
Past Italian glories
The two Milan sides have won the competition 10 times between them and are certainly not in unfamiliar territory. Both have endured difficult times in recent history. Serie A clubs generally lack the financial strength to compete in the transfer market with sides from La Liga and the Premier League. There is certainly not a level playing ground anymore, but in the past Italian teams ruled Europe.
In 2002/03 three of the four semi-final teams were from Italy. Milan of course defeated Inter to reach the final, and Juventus defeated Madrid. Milan managed to keep the red-hot Alessandro Del Piero quiet in the final. The Rossoneri eventually earned their sixth European victory on penalties at Old Trafford.
Milan added a seventh success in the 2006/07 competition. That campaign was the last time that they reached the semi-final before this year. They defeated Liverpool in the final, which allowed them to get their revenge for the 2005 collapse in Istanbul.
Despite Milan generally being the more successful team in Europe, Inter has had its fair share of glory in the UCL. They are in fact the most recent Italian team to have won the competition. In 2009/10, Jose Mourinho coached the Nerazzurri to a famous victory over Bayern Munich.
The two Milan clubs have for a long time flown the flag of Italian football in Europe. They have together accumulated the majority of successes, and this year they will again lead Italy’s hopes once again. A team from Milan will feature in the UCL final, could they deliver the unthinkable and bring back the glory days after a lengthy wait?
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