AC Milan and Inter Milan on Wednesday drew the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final 0-0 leaving everything to play for when they re-convene for the second leg on May 13.
The match will be played at their shared San Siro stadium in Milan.
Milan will be disappointed not to have been able to make the most of their domination, particularly in the second half, but having not conceded Inter an 'away goal' they know a scoring draw when they are officially the away team will be enough to see them into the final at Old Trafford on May 28.
Despite the absence of goals and a scarcity of real scoring chances -- a disappointment given the array of attacking talent on display -- there was rarely a dull moment in a game played at a high-pace and in a good spirit, despite the intense atmosphere generated by the 95-year rivalry between two of Italy's top clubs.
Inter's Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba failed to make the most of two good first half chances for his side but it is Milan who will feel the more frustrated.
Carlo Ancelotti's men were unable to turn their midfield supremacy, built on the fiery determination of Gennaro Gattuso and the silky touches of Rui Costa, into a busier night for Inter keeper Francesco Toldo.
Too often -- against a well-disciplined Inter back line -- Milan were tempted into harmless long-range shots and Inter coach Hector Cuper will feel his decision to play with three central defenders paid off as neither of Milan's strikers Andriy Shevchenko or Filippo Inzaghi were able to find much space.
Earlier, after a colourful choreographed display of flags and banners from the two sets of supporters had set the scene and sparked a crescendo of noise before the
Recoba latched on to a neat flick from Hernan Crespo but shot weakly from the edge of the penalty area at Milan keeper Dida.
The little Uruguayan forward lacked power again ten minutes later when, unmarked, he headed a Sergio Conceicao cross softly into the arms of the Brazilian keeper.
In between those efforts from Recoba, Milan had gone close through Shevchenko who forced a save out of Toldo with a shot from the left of the penalty area after being set up by Georgian full back Kakha Kaladze.
After the interval, Milan stepped up the pace, launching a wave of attacks at the Inter defence.
Rui Costa tried two shots from distance that flashed wide and then Shevchenko was unable to turn the ball past Toldo at the near post after a fine run and cross from Kaladze.
The nearest Milan came to breaking the deadlock was when the tenacious Gattuso forced a fine diving save out of Toldo in the 64th minute after an excellent piece of control from Inzaghi.
Ancelotti made use of his ample resources in the latter stages introducing Brazilian pair Serginho and Rivaldo and the Argentine midfielder Fernando Redondo.
Yet rather than be given a boost by the substitutions, Milan lost the momentum they had built up and it was Inter who came closest in the final stages.
Crespo, who had a disappointing night, won a tussle with Milan captain Paolo Maldini as he raced on to a long ball forward but the Argentine was wide off the target with his shot.
He and the rest of the expensive forwards on display will hope that next week one of them can get a goal that could make all the difference between two tightly matched sides.
