By Samuel A. September 23, 2024
AC Milan triumphed 2-1 over Internazionale in Derby della Madonnina thanks to a late Matteo Gabbia winner, to record their first win against their arch rivals in the last seven matches as Inter had won the previous six. Christian Pulisic, who has started the season brightly, fired Milan into the lead after just 10 minutes, driving past several Inter players before prodding the ball past Yann Sommer.
Inter grew into the game after going behind and they had their equaliser just before the half hour mark when Lautaro Martinez slipped a good ball into the path of Federico Dimarco who fired his effort low and hard into the bottom right corner past Mike Maignan.
Milan had a succession of big chances to take the lead in the second half, most notably through Rafael Leao who struck a fierce effort straight at Sommer and Tammy Abraham who fired an effort wide of the post from close range. With missed chance after missed chance, it looked as though it was not going to be the Rossoneri’s day, until Tijjani Reijnders’ free kick found Gabbia, with the boyhood Milan fan rising highest to power home a header and earn AC all three points.
This win takes AC level on points with Inter in Serie A and just three points off Torino in top spot with Lecce up next for The Rossoneri. Inter will have to quickly dust themselves down as next up for them is a trip to Udinese who sit third in Serie A. Milan had won just once in five games in all competitions to spark talk of a crisis, but Sunday’s victory moved them to eight points in Serie A from five games, level with Inter.
“I am so happy for us, for the fans,” Gabbia said post match. “It was a pretty difficult moment where things weren’t going well, but I am sure this game will give us a real energy boost. It is our duty to give our all. There are negative moments in life and in careers, we must make sure that we don’t have regrets at the final whistle and that’s what happened today. We are always by the side of the coach, despite what is said outside.”
