AC Milan and Inter Milan fought out an exciting draw in the Milan derby at San Siro on Sunday night.
Clashes between the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri are always hotly anticipated contests and this one will have satisfied even the hardest viewers to please.
Perhaps even more importantly, it was the clearest sign yet that the two giants are back at the top of Italian football – and there to stay!
Milan Derby Highlights Return to the Top of Italian Football
Thoroughly Exciting Battle
The game was electric from the off. A packed out San Siro witnessed a sublime show of attacking output and it was perhaps surprising that only two goals were scored.
Former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu made sure he was to take the penalty Inter won just 11 minutes in and duly placed it into the middle of the goal. Ice cold from the Turkey international, who had no queries about celebrating either.
Just six minutes later, AC Milan struck back when Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij headed past Samir Handanovic into his own goal. Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori celebrated, shamelessly claiming the goal.
The drama didn’t stop as Inter won another penalty, but a change of penalty taker, with Argentine Lautaro Martinez stepping up this time around, did not help matters as Milan’s stand-in goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu saved.
Return to Top of Italian Football Clear
Despite it being so early in the season, this game clearly meant so much and whilst that’s an obvious thing for a Milan derby, much was riding on it in the league table too.
League leaders Napoli drew with Verona earlier in the day, leaving AC Milan, the only other unbeaten side in the league, with an opportunity to take top spot. However, to do so, they were tasked with having to beat an Inter Milan side that have only suffered defeat once in Serie A this season themselves.
Meanwhile, the gap between the Milan sides was and remains seven points. A win for Inter would have seen them reach touching distance of the top two and how could Milan just let that happen? Surprisingly, towards the end of the game, with a draw perhaps favouring the Rossoneri, Stefano Pioli’s side looked the most likely to take the three points, particularly when substitute Alexis Saelemaekers’ effort from range struck Handanovic’s post and Franck Kessie failed to hit the target with the follow up.
Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for either of the two sides. But the continuation of what was a prolonged battle for the Scudetto last season is a sight many a football fan has longed to see over the years. With both teams competing in the Champions League too, all is sunny in Milan.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
