When Inter Milan and AC Milan play against one another, the Serie A world stops. It doesn’t matter that Juventus dropped points or that Napoli kept on winning. All eyes are always on the San Siro for the Derby Della Madonnina, for this game is never short of passion and glory as one of the biggest rivalries in the world.
Mauro Icardi Wins the Derby For Inter
When a game of this magnitude gets underway, they’re rarely crackers from the getgo. It usually takes a few minutes for the teams, under such high pressure, to feel each other out. In this case, it took about ten minutes before Milan started really high pressing, opening up the game. When it opened up, so did Inter, who played some lovely passes and ball movement that included an Icardi goal ruled out for offside.
That was the first flashpoint of the game but it was quickly eclipsed. A few minutes later, Lucas Biglia went in on Radja Nainggolan in the middle of the field. He caught him, but in the process, Nainggolan put some studs into his ankle, nasty for both of them. But a classic referee scrum ensued as one would expect from the derby. Even worse, the challenge forced Nainggolan off in the 29th minute and he was replaced by Borja Valero.
The rest of the first half was edgy and choppy. Both sides made some questionable challenges but Milan finished the half with three yellow cards to Inter’s zero. Milan even got their own disallowed goal via offside but even still we went into half-time scoreless.
Second Half
As the second half got underway, there were plenty more chances and end-to-end football. Both Milan and Inter had a few chances but it was Inter who applied most of the pressure. As the game wore on, it felt more and more like Milan had decided to hold for the draw. Inter tried to change things, but bringing people on didn’t bring any help. Nor did Milan’s changes – who honestly thought Tiemoue Bakayoko would help?
But at the end of the game when the slightest touch of magic would deliver the glory, there were two thei to snatch it. Inter Milan’s Mattias Vecino received the ball on the right wing without any real options. So he fired in a cross, a world-class cross that perfectly split both defenders and goalie to find only one head.
It’s always one man; Mauro Icardi. The captain and controversial figure is always in the news and always scoring goals. So when Vecino’s outstanding ball made its way into the penalty area, it was always going to be directed into the net. Once again, Mauro Icardi was the match winner giving Inter all three points.
Serie A Round-Up
Elsewhere in Serie A, Juventus were playing host to Genoa in what they hoped would be an easy three points. Max Allegri only rotated a few positions before the Champions League game against Manchester United. The lack of rotation meant another start for Cristiano Ronaldo and, before the first half was over, he had gotten another goal. Ronaldo’s fourth on the season was a tap-in and gave Juve a 1-0 lead.
However, that lead would not last as, after a pretty pedestrian second half, Genoa got their equalizer. The goal, scored by Daniel Bessa, forced Juventus into their first dropped points of the season. Allegri will be disappointed in the response by Juve after the goal.
Meanwhile, Napoli were able to do plenty of rotating when Carlo Ancelotti’s side visited Udinese on Saturday night. With Lorenzo Insigne uninvolved and Marek Hamsik on as a sub, it was Dries Mertens who got to play the starring role. He scored a penalty and assisted their third goal. But the goal of the bunch goes to Fabian Ruiz, who came on for an injured Simone Verdi before curling an absolute beauty into the far corner.
Next Weekend
Only one game worth saving time for next week, but boy is it worth it. Napoli, in need another big test to prove how strong they are under Carlo Ancelotti, face Roma. Fresh off an awful loss at home to SPAL, they are in dire need of some success.
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