MILAN. Mission accomplished, theInter is Italian champion for the twentieth time in its history (1 title by default) and the second in four years. The Nerazzurri hit the big target in the most beautiful way, beating their cousins at home Milan 2-1 in the derby of the 33rd matchday. The goals of Unripe and of Thuram (goal n.12 in the championship for the Frenchman) leave no escape for a Rossoneri team harshly contested by their fans, right in front of the eyes of the owner Cardinale who arrived specially from the USA.
With this victory, Inter flies to 86 points in the standings, +17 on the Rossoneri with 5 games still to play. Simone Inzaghi he deservedly won his first championship, which made him one of the most successful coaches of the last twenty years in Italy.
The match
A title announced and deserved for an Inter that has always been in command of the standings, with Juve the only team to try to resist in the first round before collapsing due to their problems. Tomori’s late goal wasn’t enough for Milan, the Rossoneri always appeared at the mercy of the new Italian champions. The expulsions of Theo and Calabria were a bitter end, along with Inter’s Dumfries. Yet another defeat in the derby will almost certainly cost Pioli the bench, who at this point is unlikely to be reconfirmed at the end of the season. In Milan, Pioli tries a surprise move by deploying Leao as first striker to the detriment of Giroud. Behind the Portuguese Musah, Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic. In Inter Inzaghi lines up the “starters” with the Lautaro-Thuram duo in attack. San Siro is sold out, as always the atmosphere is electrifying and the choreographies are spectacular with back and forth between the fans in the banners. Inter’s Curva Nord he writes: “Our destiny, your nightmare”. The reply from Milan’s Curva Sud: “Mathematics is not an opinion on the pitch, it’s 19” with clear reference to the title awarded to the Nerazzurri in 2006 due to the Calciopoli scandal.
Minute of silence for Mattia Giani
Before the match, a minute of silence was observed for Mattia Giani, the Castelfiorentino footballer who died after an illness on the pitch. It is played in a winter climate, with cold and rain that gave no respite all day. Start of the match with Inter immediately in control of the pitch, Inzaghi’s team plays with greater determination and confidence while Milan gives the feeling of being a little too undecided about what to do. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts by Lautaro and Thuram, followed by a timid AC Milan response with Reijnders and Theo, Inter took the lead at the first opportunity in the 18th minute: Acerbi scored the goal with a header from the center of the area on a spurt by Pavard, on Dimarco’s corner. Milan’s defense was bad, leaving the Nerazzurri defender alone in the area. On the wings of enthusiasm, Inter devoured themselves shortly after the second goal with Lautaro firing an assist from Dimarco high into the empty net. The first real Rossoneri reaction just before the half hour mark with Leao challenging Sommer with a diagonal shot to the near post, closing a counterattack triggered by Musah. It’s a flash in the pan, however, because Inter are always in control. Before the break, Inzaghi’s team devours two other great opportunities first with Thuram and then with Mkhitaryan to double the lead. In the middle, Milan in turn was very close to a draw with Calabria, a super Sommer instinctively rejected. Finally it is Pavard with a champion’s intervention to stop Leao launched into the net. Inter restarted with their foot on the accelerator and after four minutes Thuram found the second goal with a great right-footed shot from the edge of the area which surprised his compatriot Maignan.
Milan crisis
It’s the middle of the night for Milan. Pioli tries to take cover by inserting Giroud for Reijnders and switching to a three-man defense with Musah and Theo on the outside. Rossoneri reaction with Theo Hernandez who challenges Sommer with his left foot, Loftus-Cheek puts it out of the rebound. Milan tries to raise the center of gravity and inevitably gives space to the deadly Nerazzurri counterattacks with Lautaro and Thuram always dangerous. The lighting of smoke bombs in the two corners causes a sudden blanket of fog to descend on the field. Pioli also sends Chukwueze onto the pitch for Loftus-Cheek and Bennacer for Adli, to try to give the team another jolt which arrives in the 79th minute when Tomori heads in a melee to close the gap. Milan suddenly multiplies their chances and even comes close to a sensational draw with Okafor, who fails to take advantage of Sommer’s indecision. It’s the last real emotion of this derby, even if the ending is marred by a brawl involving Theo Hernandez and Dumfries who are sent off, followed shortly after by Calabria. At the referee’s final whistle the Nerazzurri celebration explodes with all the players and Inzaghi’s staff pouring under the Curva Nord to celebrate under an emblematic banner: “Repeat it to the Madonnina, who is the champion and who is the crybaby”. Curtain .
Tags: Inzaghis team history Video Tirreno
