In the Zone: Inter 1-0 Milan performance analysis

Inter advanced to the sixth European Cup/UEFA Champions League final in their history – and their first since they last triumphed in 2010 – with victory over neighbours AC Milan this week.

In this article brought to you by Fedex, UEFA's Technical Observers' Panel shine a light on several tactical points from Tuesday night's 1-0 second-leg success including Inter's strong counterattacking play and the robust penalty-box defending which brought them a fifth clean sheet in six knockout games.

Goals

1-0: Lautaro Martínez (74)

Martínez combined with substitute Romelu Lukaku for his 25th goal in an Inter shirt this season. Collecting a pass from Lukaku on the left side of the box, he returned the ball to the Belgian who held it up well before feeding it back to Martínez, in enough space to take a touch to set himself up for a fierce, low, left-footed shot. Mike Maignan, who had made an excellent reflex save from an Edin Džeko header in the first period, got a touch to the ball but could not keep it out at his near post.

Player of the Match: Lautaro Martínez

The match observer praised the Argentinian for a captain's performance in which "he defended well but also kept the ball so that Inter could go forward". Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti described him as "an example for the team" and to offer one measure of his impact, Martínez ended the week joint-second for ball carries following a 1v1 with four – only Manchester City's Jack Grealish (six) managed more.

Team formations

Inter

Simone Inzaghi chose the same line-up as for the first leg and his team were set up in the same 1-3-5-2 starting formation. When they were building the play, wing-backs Denzel Dumfries (2) and Federico Dimarco (32) would support the attack and one of the midfielders would get forward too – as when Henrikh Mkhitaryan (22) scored in the first leg.

Inter also used the option of a longer pass at times, to either the strikers or Dumfries, and looked to win second balls. "One striker would sprint into space, with the other trying to get the ball to his feet," explained the match observer.

Out of possession, the observer noted that Inter looked to push high up the pitch and were not afraid to go 1v1 across the pitch.

Milan

Stefano Pioli made three changes from the first leg with Malick Thiaw (28) replacing Simon Kjær in central defence and Rafael Leão (17), passed fit again, and Junior Messias (30) coming in on the wings. Making way for them were Alexis Saelemakers and the injured Ismaël Bennacer.

Milan's starting formation was 1-4-2-3-1 though they looked to build up with three in the back line as left-back Theo Hernández (19) moved higher up the pitch, and Davide Calabria (2) stayed deeper.

According to the observer, Milan could not always get the ball to their wingers, meaning a greater threat came from Sandro Tonali (8) or Brahim Díaz (10). Tonali's total of three key passes was matched this week only by Man City winger Grealish – and one of the three teed up a wonderful early opportunity for Díaz, but his low shot was too close to André Onana.

Features

Inter double up

The first feature highlighted by UEFA's analysis unit was Inter's solid defensive work as they earned their eighth shut-out on the road to Istanbul. They were aggressive and disciplined in their defending and looked to double up on the Milan wingers – notably Rafael Leão – as we see in the first clip when two Nerazzurri players are in the vicinity of Messias as he swings over the cross. And although Olivier Giroud wins the back-post header, Inter have two men close to goal to sweep up as Matteo Darmian averts the danger.

Inter's centre-backs were marking tightly as we see in Clip 2 when Giroud finds himself closely monitored by two defenders – and Francesco Acerbi heads clear. The same happens in the third clip with Giroud outnumbered again and Robin Gosens clearing. Indeed, for all Giroud's prowess in the air, Inter won 55.6% of the aerial duels on Tuesday night.

Inter's counterattacking

The second video focuses on Inter's counterattacking efforts, showing their determination to progress swiftly up the pitch. In the first clip we see their quick passing and forward runs after they win the ball – not just from the front two but also Dumfries, racing up the right side.

This sequence also shows Inter's commitment to winning duels as when the first ball into the box is cleared, midfielder Nicolò Barella wins the 50-50 outside the box and puts the ball back in there for Džeko to tee up a second opportunity for Mkhitaryan.

Barella features again in the second clip with a run from midfield behind the Milan backline while in Clip 3 we see Inter's hard work out of possession once more as Barrella regains the ball in the centre of the pitch to spark a counter which ends with Džeko getting a cross into the box. As the observer said: "The aggressiveness of Inter was great to see, with their determination to win duels." On this score, midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu warrants a mention too for his 14 recoveries – more than any other player in the Champions League this week.

Milan's set-piece defending

The third video provides a talking point noted by the UEFA observer regarding Milan's defensive set-up for wide free-kicks into their box.

In these situations, Milan dropped their defensive line very deep whereas typically most teams would defend higher, close to the edge of their box. It offers food for thought for coaches as the upside of such an approach is that your defenders are able to come on to the ball when it goes deep – rather than running back to their goal.

However, the downside is shown in Clip 2 as if the opposition do get a touch to the ball, then the contact is much closer to goal – increasing the danger. Fortunately for Milan, in this instance, Maignan produces a smart response to deny Džeko.

Coaches' assessments

Simone Inzaghi, Inter coach: "My lads were great – they played an organised, aggressive, focused game. They were extraordinary. [Martínez] is not just a finisher, a striker. He works a lot for the team and tonight he was great in both phases."

Stefano Pioli, Milan coach: "There are regrets – for the 15 minutes in the first leg and because we could have scored a goal tonight which might have changed the game. We didn’t have Leão at his best for either game and if you’re not at your best in these games it becomes difficult."

Martínez and Inzaghi compare notes during the Milan deciderAFP via Getty Images