The Derby della Madonnina is always one of the biggest dates in the Italian football calendar, but with AC Milan and Inter about to meet in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2002/03, when the Rossoneri eventually won the competition, the fight for tickets have already begun.
Twenty years ago there was an estimated 200,000 applications for each of the two legs and that number is expected to have increased, given the absence of the two clubs from the latter stages of the continent’s showpiece competition, which the 76,000 capacity of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, or San Siro, would struggle with even without current limitations.
AC Milan fans advised to sign up
With AC Milan designated as the home side for the first leg on May 10, 2023, the club has confirmed that supporters can expect an announcement in the coming days for holders of the Cuore Rossonero card, while they will provide the open sale details shortly after. However, they advise non-members who are looking for tickets to use the send notification option on the official website to be contacted directly by email.
The Rossoneri Help Centre received over 10,000 registrations for the notification service in the two hours after overcoming Serie A rivals Napoli in the quarter-final, and are expecting many more in the coming days, but the reality might be that non-members will struggle with very few, if any, tickets available during previous rounds. For the Round of 16 clash with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, the club recorded over nine million submissions and it will certainly surpass that figure.
Fixture congestion set to delay Inter sales
While coach Simone Inzaghi might like to focus on the upcoming Milan Derby, the Nerazzurri are in a fight to qualify for next season’s edition and still eyeing Coppa Italia success, which has led to a fixture calendar congested with few opportunities to rest players. Inter host Juventus in the Coppa Italia on April 26, before Champions League-chasing Lazio visit, with both matches expected to sell out and take the immediate focus of the Inter ticket office.
The Nerazzurri entertaining Milan on May 16 provides some breathing room to arrange the ticket sales, but they expect the announcement of sale dates after their encounter with the Bianconeri is over. However, the process will follow the standard route, with a pre-sale for season ticket holders, then Inter Club members and Siamo Noi Card holders – if they were registered by April 18. Then, they will open to free sale should tickets remain.
Champions League final tickets already on sale
Although the side that reaches the Champions League final will receive a separate allocation for fans, the reality is that season ticket holders and members will far exceed the number available. Last season, finalists Liverpool and Real Madrid received less than half of the tickets for the 80,000-capacity Stade de France in Paris, and governing body UEFA has already confirmed a similar distribution in Istanbul.
This has resulted in many fans opting to apply for general sale tickets through the official UEFA website, which are already on sale starting at €70. Limits are set at two per person and will end at 14:00 CEST (13:00 BST) on Friday, April 28, which is just 10 days before the first semi-final kicks off. However, they will not sell tickets on a first come first served basis, with a ballot determining whether supporters are successful, and applicants can choose to only enter the ballot if their chosen side reaches the final.
What might put some fans off travelling to Turkey is the pricing structure beyond the entry-level Category 4 ticket, with prices increasing sharply to €180, then €490 for Category 2 and an eye-watering €690 if willing to purchase the most expensive seats in the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
