Milan answers present. Let it be Inter is Milan, beating respectively Sparta Prague e Girona, are rapidly approaching the round of 16 Champions League, even six final verdicts will arrive only in a week. The last round could be worth the pass for direct qualification, provided that the Nerazzurri collect at least one point against Monaco (at San Siro) and that the Rossoneri conquer Zagreb, in what promises to be a challenge with no holds barred (Dinamo, in fact, is still in the running for the playoffs).
Sparta Prague – Inter 0-1: Inzaghi enjoys Lautaro, now a point is enough for the eighth finals
THEInter he wanted to conquer Prague without spending too much energy, increasing their chances of qualifying enormously (a point in the final match against Monaco is enough) and confirming their candidacy also in the Champions League key. The Nerazzurri go through: cross by Sticks on the far post, right-footed volley smashed by Lautaro from a tight position and nothing to do Vindahl (12'). The goal conceded did not change the plans of the Czechs, who were mainly focused on not leaving any space and determined to create something good in the area of SummerInter controlled the game without too much trouble, perhaps slowing down the pace too much and also making mistakes on some easy passes. Aslan he had the ball for 2-0 on his left foot (high shot), as well as Stretcher in the 35th minute. In the second half Sparta Prague became more enterprising, led by their most technical player, Burmancevic, who at 55' committed Summer, attentive at the near post. The Czechs were thus forced to think like us. but Inter failed to take advantage of the gaps left. At 60′ Dumfries would also close the game, but the goal is cancelled by the VAR for an offside by Dimarco. Lautaro kicks three times in the middle, then Frattesi forces Vindahl to lift it over the crossbar. Inzaghi draws from the bench and sends one after the other onto the pitch darmian, Fraternity, Carlos Augusto, Zielinski e Taremis without finding the goal of tranquility. The hosts create several scrums in the area, even if Sommer is no longer in serious danger.
Inzaghi: “We are close to a great goal, it was not a given”
“We are close to a great result made of excellent performances – he underlined Inzaghi -. We still need a point, destiny will be in our hands. This path was not a given but we wanted it, playing seven games in the right way. I am very satisfied with the performance, we were always focused in a very demanding game. I complimented the boys and I am also happy for the fans, who were many tonight too. We had closed the game, Dimarco's offside was by a stud. After Lautaro's goal, they remained closed and it was not easy. In the second half we raised the pace and we should have scored the second goal because we created so many opportunities".
Milan – Girona 1-0: a goal by Leao brings the 'dream of the eighth' closer
Good first in Europe for Sergio Conceiçao. After the first defeat in the championship, the Portuguese coach achieved his first success in the Champions League at the helm of the Rossoneri and brought Milan closer to direct qualification for the round of 16. The Devils overcame the Girona of measurement thanks to a Leao's goal (37'), their best man, who achieved their fifth consecutive success and climbed to sixth place. At this point, in case of victory in the last round in Zagreb against Dynamo by Cannavaro, the red and black team will be certain of being part of the G8 of this Champions League and consequently avoiding the play-off phase that will take place in February. The Girona goalkeeper was among the best on the pitch in the first half, Milan created but also conceded and after the half hour the Spaniards had two golden opportunities. The most sensational one fell at the feet of there is de Beek, Dutch midfielder who after a run in the AC Milan area called maignan to the great intervention. The French goalkeeper also excelled himself in full recovery on Herrera, but just before that Milan found the goal that unlocked and decided the match: well set up by Bennacer, Rafael Lion he went away from his direct marker and then slammed the ball under the crossbar with power and precision (37'). In the second half the rain increased but not the conclusions. The Devils appeared tired and then Girona, especially in the first minutes, tried to put the match on the track of balance without however succeeding, due to the Romero's goal disallowed for a offside of half a foot. In the last half hour, Milan managed more than they played. They showed some physical difficulty, but unlike what happened in the first 60 minutes, they defended with order and brought home a very important victory: the standings with 90 minutes to go say sixth place.
Conceiçao: “Good job done, but it’s not over yet.”
“The boys have done a good job, but it's not over yet, there's one race left – he explained Conceiçao -. There are things that are going well, others a little less so. We have to continue working, even if the result is certainly the most important thing tonight. We had many chances in the first half and overall we were superior, in the second half instead we were a little afraid of equalizing. Leao? He scored a nice goal, I'm asking him to do other things without the ball, he accepts and is an example from this point of view. The change I'm asking for is not easy, everyone must think and act in the same way".