AC Milan and Inter Milan’s wins in the Champions League this week has set up a Milan derby in the semi-finals, so now is the perfect time to look back on the last time the pair met in Europe.
Rafael Leao’s mesmerising run helped Milan defeat league leaders Napoli on Tuesday night, whilst Inter drew 3-3 with Benfica to go through 5-3 on aggregate on Wednesday.
It means that one of the two clubs who call the San Siro their home will be in the final in June, hopefully in Istanbul, once they’ve met twice at their ground next month.
The same scenario played out in 2003, when the Rossoneri went on to beat Juventus on penalties in the final, at Old Trafford, in one of the worst finals in the competition’s history.
Inter were made to play their next four home European fixtures behind closed doors as punishment for failing to control their fans.
Milan then beat PSV in the semis and were favourites against Liverpool in the final, is Istanbul, with the English side having finished the Premier League season outside the top four.Of course, we all know what happened next, with Rafa Benitez’s men somehow winning on penalties, having been 3-0 down at half time.
The 2005 Champions League campaign really was an iconic one for Milan, fast forward 18 years and they will once again play Inter before the final takes place in Turkey, an omen?!