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Inter Milan Reach Second Straight UCL Final
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For the first time in UEFA Champions League and European Cup history, the same two teams that contested last season's final will play yet again this season; reigning champions Inter Milan will once again take on runner up Arsenal to compete for the famous trophy in Camp Nou next month.
After a very strong 2-0 win at Old Trafford against a rather poor Manchester United side, the Nerazzurri knew that a strong performance at home would take them to their second straight final. The last team to manage to win two straight Champions League trophies was AC Milan, and now Inter looked ready to try and outshine their eternal rivals.
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza had hosted the final last season, but now it hosted Inter's most important game of the season to date; home to the Red Devils. Luciano Spaletti's English giants needed a very strong result to advance to their first final since 2011, and a big boost for them was the return of the formerly injured Neymar.
Fifteen minutes into the match, however, it was a different winger that was thrust into the spotlight. Lucas Digne brilliantly tackled Neymar before hitting a delightful lofted ball to Raheem Sterling on the counterattack. The English international, who in fact scored his only goal for England at Old Trafford, nicked the ball past David De Gea and scored. The match seemed over even this early.
Moments after the restart, however, Wayne Rooney nearly pegged one back for United. Emerson Luiz lingered on the ball for far too long at the back and the powerful striker won the ball and had a hit from distance, only to watch the dipping shot hammer off of the upright and wide.
Sterling almost found himself doubling his tally on the night shortly before halftime. Fernando Muslera had launched a goal kick deep down the field and the 5'4" Lorenzo Insigne had nodded the ball through for the pacy winger. Sterling was one on one with De Gea but failed to make United pay, instead watching his shot crash off of the post.
The interval came and went, and afterward it seemed the Nerazzurri were far more content to sit back and soak up Manchester United's inevitable waves of pressure; Neymar and his men needed three goals to advance. Andrea Ranocchia and Emerson Luiz were rocks at the back, however, and for the longest time managed to stifle any and all Red Devil attacks with Yann M'Vila sweeping up in midfield.
With just two minutes to go, however, United did get at least some consolation. Andriy Yarmolenko made a sparkling run down the left beating Gino Peruzzi with ease. The Ukrainian international picked out Neymar at the back post and found him excellently, leaving the Brazilian superstar to poke home from close range.
It was a case of "too little, too late", however, and Inter Milan moved onto the final by an aggregate score of 3-1, doing the hard bit in the away leg before securing safe passage at home.
"The boys are very excited to have made the final for the second year running, and it will be all the more fun for the fans to watch us take on Conte's Arsenal once again," said Berogmi in his post match press conference. "We've already won Serie A; all our focus is on winning the Champions League once again."
Arsenal lost 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium to MAnchester City but survived the late scare to move on due to the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw. Antonio Conte seemed inspired after the match, saying, "It's time for vengeance. Every single person at the club is hungry to win over the team that took this title from us last year. We
will triumph."
Inter and Arsenal will face off at the Camp Nou in May to see who will take home the European crown. Will Inter win their second straight UCL or can Arsenal avenge last season's heartbreaking loss? We are in for one hell of a final.
Inter 4-1 Palermo
Lorenzo Insigne (13)
