Leão fit in time at AC Milan, which still wants to reach CL final against city rival Inter

AC Milan attacker Rafael Leão may play in the return in the Champions League semifinals between AC and Inter Milan. So says his coach Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese striker missed the first match, which Inter managed to win 2-0.

“We know we start with a deficit, but we also have the quality to turn it around,” Pioli said ahead of Tuesday night’s return.

His colleague Simone Inzaghi is clear about the importance of the return, with a final place at stake. “This is one of the most important matches in Inter’s history,” Inzaghi said. “We are still 90 minutes plus injury time away from our dream.”

Still, AC Milan’s coach has not given up on his final dream either. “Nobody thinks Milan can make the final yet. But I know we can play a great match and I know how strong my players are. We made some mistakes, but the past doesn’t matter,” Pioli said.

Now playing at Inter are Dutchmen Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries. Both players featured in the first match. Dumfries played 90 minutes, De Vrij was a substitute. Internazionale is the last Italian club that managed to win the Champions League. That did team from Milan in 2010, with Wesley Sneijder as the architect.