MILAN - These are the special nights. The ones when you play for pride, glory and local bragging rights. The #DerbyMilano belongs to Inter. Brozovic and Lukaku. 0-2. The Nerazzurri were in control from start to finish. It was a brilliant display: Handanovic had hardly anything to do as the side scored two goals and hit the woodwork three times to pick up three richly deserved points.
The first big chance came ten minutes in. A weak Rodriguez back pass was picked up by Donnarumma with Lautaro Martinez closing him down. The Argentine was able to make a challenge and the ball span out just wide of the post for a corner. The early exchanges continued with the sides looking to figure one another out and press high, but the goalkeepers weren’t especially busy. Inter had a chance in the 18th minute after again winning the ball up high. Lautaro fed it to Lukaku and the Belgian striker fired low across Donnarumma’s goal, but the goalkeeper got down well to keep it out. Inter were lively and forcing Milan back. There were incredible scenes in the 21st minute. Sensi set up Lautaro Martinez, who let fly from inside the area. Donnarumma saved brilliantly and the rebound dropped for D’Ambrosio, who got there ahead of Rodriguez but hit the post. Inter’s dominance let up in the 23rd minute when Calhanoglu found the net, but it was chalked off for an earlier Kessie handball after the ball had bounced up off Asamoah. The Rossoneri gained confidence but Inter were dangerous once more. D’Ambrosio was on the end of a Barella cross, with Donnarumma having to come up with an excellent save. Although Lautaro turned in the rebound, Doveri ruled it out after a long VAR check due to D’Ambrosio being offside when the ball was played into the box. Milan’s biggest chance came in the 40th minute. On the break, Suso kept going and going after an Inter corner but Asamoah made a brilliant block inside the box. Galvanised, Milan kept attacking and Piatek went close in the 44th minute with a header from Rafael Leao’s cross.
The Nerazzurri immediately went on the attack after the restart and managed to break the deadlock four minutes in: after Sensi had won a free kick just outside the box, the Italian laid it off for Brozovic, whose low strike came off Leao and ended up in the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Inter. It was a goal that was eventually given after a two-minute VAR check as the officials evaluated whether Lautaro Martinez was offside. This was a well-deserved lead as Inter continued to try to play in an aggressive manner. In the 61st minute, the Nerazzurri’s pressure high up the pitch led to another chance: Lautaro tested Donnarumma before Lukaku wasn’t quite able to score on the follow-up. It was proving to be a battle out there as Milan brought on Paquetà and Hernandez to try to find a way back into the match. Conte responded by sending on Vecino and Politano to reinvigorate Inter once more. With 77 minutes on the clock, the Nerazzurri doubled their lead, and it was a great goal too: Barella whipped in an inch-perfect cross and Lukaku finished with his head. A great bit of play that left Donnarumma with no chance: 2-0 to Inter! The Nerazzurri could have made it three just minutes later, but Poltiano’s left-footed strike came off the bar before ending up out of play. It was then Milan’s turn to hit the woodwork: Theo Hernandez entered the area from the left and saw his shot cannon off the outside of the post as the Nerazzurri breathed a huge sigh of relief. Inter went on to control matters from there and could have even made it three on the break through Candreva in added time, but the substitute’s effort hit the inside of the upright and rolled across the line instead of going in. It didn’t matter, however, as the Nerazzurri ran out 2-0 winners.
The night thus ended with the team celebrating in front of the Inter fans, with Conte’s men having continued their fantastic early league form: four matches, four wins, twelve points. Another #DerbyMilano victory in the bag. #ForzaInter forever!
MILAN 0-2 INTER
INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 2 Godin, 6 De Vrij, 37 Skriniar; 33 D'Ambrosio, 23 Barella (87 Candreva 82'), 77 Brozovic, 12 Sensi (8 Vecino 71'), 18 Asamoah; 10 Lautaro Martinez (16 Politano 76'), 9 Lukaku.
Substitutes: 27 Padelli,13 Ranocchia, 21 Dimarco, 95 Bastoni, 5 Gagliardini, 19 Lazaro, 20 Borja Valero, 34 Biraghi, 7 Sanchez.
Coach: Antonio Conte
MILAN (4-3-1-2): 99 G. Donnarumma; 12 Conti, 22 Musacchio, 13 Romagnoli, 68 Rodriguez (19 Hernandez 72'); 79 Kessié, 20 Biglia, 10 Calhanoglu (39 Paquetà 64'); 8 Suso; 17 Leao (18 Rebic 83'), 9 Piatek.
Substitutes: 95 Reina, 90 A. Donnarumma, 43 Duarte, 4 Bennacer, 46 Gabbia, 11 Borini, 5 Bonaventura, 7 Castillejo, 33 Krunic.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo
Goalscorers: 49' Brozovic, 77' Lukaku
Bookings: Conti (M), D'Ambrosio (I), Rebic (M)
Added time: 3' - 5'
Referee: Doveri
Assistants: Ranghetti, Lo Cicero
Fourth official: Maresca
VAR and Assistant VAR: Irrati, Carbone
