AC Milan beat Inter 1-0: Mike Maignan shines, hopes of a return to the Scudetto.
AC Milan defeated Inter 1-0 in a dramatic derby, narrowing the gap to 7 points thanks to a goal from Estupinan and an excellent performance from goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The Derby della Madonnina in Serie A's 28th round ended with an incredibly emotional moment for AC Milan fans. AC Milan ended Inter's 15-match unbeaten run with a narrow 1-0 victory, reigniting their hopes of catching up in the title race as the season enters its crucial stage.
Maignan and the turning point that changed the derby.
Entering the match with the mindset that they had to win to keep their hopes of defending the title alive, AC Milan, under coach Massimiliano Allegri, started cautiously but proactively. Conversely, Inter, under Christian Chivu, despite leading the league by 10 points, still showed impressive strength with excellent control of the ball in the midfield.
The match started at a frantic pace. In the 4th minute, taking advantage of a mistake in Yann Sommer's clearance, Luka Modric had a chance to open the scoring, but the veteran midfielder's shot went wide. However, the most notable moment in the first half wasn't a goal, but rather Mike Maignan's spectacular save in the 34th minute. Following a close-range shot from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the French goalkeeper made an incredible chest save to deny Inter the opening goal.
Just a minute after that save, Milan launched a sharp counter-attack. Youssouf Fofana and Rafael Leao combined seamlessly before setting up Pervis Estupinan, who surged forward and fired the ball into the top corner of the net, breaking the deadlock.
Breathtaking pressure and last-minute drama.
In the second half, coach Chivu was forced to make substitutions, bringing on Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Augusto in an attempt to find an equalizer. Inter completely dominated in terms of possession and expected goals (xG of 1.24 compared to Milan's 0.77). However, the absence of captain Lautaro Martinez from the starting lineup left the Nerazzurri's attack lacking the necessary sharpness.
The solidity of the central defensive duo of Fikayo Tomori and the Milan defense neutralized most of Inter's attacks. The drama reached its peak in the 90+3 minute, when Dimarco's corner kick went straight into the Milan net. However, referee Daniele Doveri ruled there was a foul in the penalty area beforehand and disallowed the goal, despite strong protests from the Inter players.
Notable statistics after the match
- Final score:AC Milan 1-0 Inter
- Goals:Pervis Estupinan (35')
- xG (Expected Goals):Milan 0.77 - 1.24 Inter
- History:For the first time since the 2010/11 season, AC Milan beat Inter in both legs of a Serie A season.
A boost for the Scudetto race.
This victory not only holds prestige in the Lombardy derby but also changes the landscape of the Serie A standings. With the three points gained, AC Milan has narrowed the gap with Inter to seven points. With ten rounds remaining in the season, the opportunity to overtake them is still very much alive for Allegri's team if they continue to maintain this tenacity.
Conversely, Inter will have to reconsider their ability to capitalize on opportunities when key players are absent. This defeat is a costly wake-up call for coach Chivu's team's ambitions of winning the championship early.
