A goalless night at San Siro boosted rivals from the capital and leaves Milan almost certain to miss the Champions League again and at risk of upheaval on and off the pitch
Even at 6.30pm on a wet Wednesday, the derby still felt like The Derby. A crowd of 78,000 fans at San Siro, vast choreographies on both Curve, the usual procession of celebrities in tailored coats and designer glasses. In a week when Italy’s two remaining Champions League representatives endured three-goal defeats, the only question that mattered in Milan was which of this city’s leading clubs would get a shot at Barcelona or Real Madrid next year.
This was not technically a European playoff, though even some Milan players described it as such in the buildup. Following a weekend defeat against Juventus, they had slipped to eight points behind the fourth-placed Internazionale. With only nine games left, and Lazio also standing between them and the Champions League places, the Rossoneri needed a win.
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