AC MILAN DEFEATED IN DERBY

Marco Giampaolo’s unbeaten run in derbies comes to a halt as AC Milan fall to Inter in the second half. The highly anticipated derby, which saw over 70,000 fans in the stadium and was broadcast by over 200 networks, was a tightly contested affair until around the hour mark when the Rossoneri were pierced by an unlucky goal and failed to recover. The starting line-up saw two changes from what we’ve come to expect, as Conti took the place of the suspended Calabria and Leão was handed his full debut. Despite the massive occasion and the unimaginable pressure of making his first start in one of the biggest matches, the Portuguese forward was one of the few positives notes to come out of this derby; the others being Gigio Donnarumma’s continued brilliance in goal and the very encouraging 20 minutes from Theo Hernández who was our second sub tonight.

MATCH REPORT 

The first chances fell to Inter: Donnarumma was called into action to deny Lukaku in the 18th minute and then D’Ambrosio in the 21st. Two minutes later, the Rossoneri appeared to have hit back with Çalhanoğlu, but the whistle had been blown as the referee believed Kessié had handled the ball. In the 35th minute, D’Ambrosio managed an overhead kick, Gigio denied him but Lautaro scored on the follow-up. This time the ref disallowed it due to offside. The shock awoke AC Milan who pressed forward. In the 40th minute, Suso stole the ball near his box and ran the length of the field, but his shot was deflected out. Just before the break a brilliant piece of skill from Leão served the ball for Piątek to head home, but he fails to find the target. Shortly after the break, Inter took the lead. Following a free-kick, Leão unfortunately deflected a shot from Brozović into the opposite corner to where Donnarumma had dived. The goal was a serious blow for Milan and, in the 78th minute, the Nerazzurri doubled their lead through Lukaku. As the game near the close, both sides hit the woodwork: Inter with Politano and Candreva, Milan with Hernández.

AC MILAN 0-2 INTER

AC MILAN (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma G.; Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodríguez (72' Hernández); Kessié, Biglia, Çalhanoğlu (64' Paquetá); Suso; Leão (83' Rebić), Piątek. Subs: Donnarumma A., Reina; Duarte, Gabbia; Bennacer, Bonaventura, Krunić; Borini, Castillejo. Coach: Giampaolo.

INTER (3-5-2): Handanović; Godín, de Vrij, Škriniar; D'Ambrosio, Barella (82' Candreva), Brozović, Sensi (71' Vecino), Asamoah; Lautaro (76' Politano), Lukaku. Subs: Padelli; Bastoni, Biraghi, Dimarco, Ranocchia; Borja Valero, Gagliardini, Lazaro; Sánchez. Coach: Conte.

Referee: Doveri from Volterra.
Goals: 49' Brozović (I), 78' Lukaku (I).
Booked: 48' Conti (M), 88' Rebić (M).