Inter 1-0 AC Milan
It took until deep into injury time, but boy what a climax as Mauro Icardi headed the winner at the end of a pulsating Derby di Milano.
The three points take Luciano Spalletti’s Inter up to third in the Serie A table and leave Milan in the bottom half. But it could have been a different story as the two Milan rivals slugged it out from the first minute to the last at the Giuseppe Meazza.
And hey, in this passionate football city the bragging rights are just as important as the points. But the Serie A 2018 odds suggest there won’t be a place in the top four for both these teams and Inter is looking good after nine games.
Highlights of the game
As Milan has gathered momentum in its climb up the table, the most eye-catching result was a 2-1 win over Champions League giants Roma, and they started this match on the front foot with both Hakan Calhanoglu and Suso having early efforts on goal. Then Suso put in Franck Kessie, but his shot from the right side of the box flew well wide.
But Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was the first keeper to be called into action, saving in his bottom right corner to stop a well-directed header from Ivan Perisic.
Calhanoglu again came close with a shot from distance and there was a blow for Inter, on 30 minutes, when midfield general Radja Nainggolan limped off to be replaced by Borja Valero. Shortly after, Inter came so close to breaking the deadlock when Perisic headed down a corner and Stefan de Vrij saw his first-time effort crash against the post.
That prompted an onslaught from I Nerazzurri as Matias Vecino and Mauro Icardi were denied by a save and a block, and Matteo Politano and Sime Vrsaljko saw their shots fly high and wide; but in an entertaining first half where the action arrived at both ends, Suso and Calhanoglu both tried their luck again.
Former Capocannoniere winners Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi are both leading their team’s scoring charge again this season, with four goals each, but neither had much of a sniff in the first half. But Higuain did have a shot charged down early in the second half when Ricardo Rodriguez put him in.
Calhanoglu tried a long-range effort which flew narrowly wide, and then Gennaro Gattuso decided to roll the dice by replacing him with super sub Patrick Cutrone. Suso came close with an effort on 80 minutes, saved by Sami Handanovic in the bottom right corner and at the other end, Icardi tested Donnarumma with a firm header.
Suso had another effort blocked and then came the big moment, on 92 minutes. Matias Vecino crossed and up rose Icardi, and this time he planted his header home and half of Milan celebrated.
That’s his fifth league goal of the season, but there’s no doubt it’s the best-loved by Inter fans!
Key Statistics
Both teams arrived at the Giuseppe Meazza in fine form, and SBOBET odds pointed to a tight game. They put on a show, intent on taking three points rather than settling for one, and in an end to end first half, Milan had eight shots to Inter’s seven but both were wasteful in front of goal.
The action continued at a pace in the second period as Inter eventually put 18 shots in on goal to Milan’s 15, but while I Nerazzurri had four on target, Milan could only manage the one.
And it’s sweet for the Blue and Blacks as Inter has now nudged ahead in the head-to-heads with 22 wins to 21, and there have been 17 draws.
What’s next?
Make sure to keep up with the Serie A 2018 news as it promises to be another big week for the Milan giants. Two huge tests in the next eight days await Spalletti’s Inter, as they first face Barcelona in the Champions League, before heading to Rome to take on Lazio on Monday 29th.
I Nerazzurri have made a perfect start to the Champions League with two wins, but defeat in Catalonia will open up the group, and either PSV or Spurs could be breathing down their necks.
Meanwhile, Milan faces Real Betis in a crunch battle at the top of Group F of the Europa League, before hosting Sampdoria in the Serie A chasing pack.
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