AC Milan 1-2 Inter - Simone Inzaghi's side crowned Serie A champions with derby victory over city rivals
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 22/04/2024 at 21:34 GMT
Interarnazionale are champions of Italy once again and secured their 20th Serie A title in the sweetest way possible – beating arch-rivals AC Milan 2-1 at San Siro to establish an unassailable 17-point lead over their neighbours at the top of the table with 5 matches to play. Goals in each half from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram were enough for victory despite Fikayo Tomori’s consolation.
Inter players celebrate winning Serie A after beating rivals Milan 2-1
Image credit: Getty Images
Inter were crowned champions of Italy in spectacular and historic fashion as they defeated rivals AC Milan 2-1 in a frantic Derby della Madonnina to wrap up their 20th Scudetto with five games to spare.
It marked the first time Serie A had ever been won in a derby match as goals from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram either side of the break mathematically assured that Simone Inzaghi’s men would finish above their second-placed neighbours.
A sixth consecutive Milan Derby victory marked the sweetest way possible for Inter to claim their first Scudetto in three years and heaped further pressure on Milan coach Stefano Pioli, whose side are now winless in four games with little left to play for this season.
Acerbi was left unmarked at a corner to nod in the opener after 18 minutes, and Inter were close to doubling their lead before the break when Lautaro Martinez missed from close range and a Thuram effort skimmed the post on its way wide.
Yann Sommer and Mike Maignan were both called into action in an entertaining game but Inter pulled clear when Thuram gathered a long ball, stepped inside from the left wing and buried a low shot into the bottom corner early in the second half.
Milan’s attacks were constantly let down by poor finishing, but they pulled one back through Fikayo Tomori with 10 minutes left when the Englishman headed home a rebound after Sommer palmed another effort off the post.
It set up a nervy grandstand finish where Denzel Dumfries and Theo Hernandez were both sent off after an altercation before Davide Calabria joined them in earning a red card, but Inter held on to spark joyous scenes in the Curva Nord.
TALKING POINT – No sweeter title clincher for Inter
This Scudetto will be talked about in glowing terms by Interisti for generations to come. Inzaghi’s side are the most deserved of title winners and their triumph has appeared inevitable for months, but sealing it in front of their rival fans has put the cherry on top of a stunning league campaign.
With the best attack and defence in the league and only one defeat all season, Inter have dominated domestically and their reward is a second gold star to be stitched on their jerseys next season. One star is awarded for every 10 titles, and a second is something they are sure to lord over Milan, who are still stuck on 19 Scudetti for now.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Marcus Thuram
Big matches need big players to provide big moments, and that was exactly what Thuram did for Inter. He was a constant menace for the Milan defence and his ultimately match-winning goal came entirely through his own efforts. Martinez may have scored more this season, but the Frenchman can now boast the most important goal of 2023/24 for Inter.
PLAYER RATINGS
AC Milan: Maignan 5; Calabria 5, Gabbia 6, Tomori 7, T. Hernandez 5; Adli 6, Reijnders 6; Musah 6, Loftus-Cheek 6, Pulisic 6; Leao 7
Subs: Giroud 6, Bennacer 6, Chukwueze 6, Okafor 6
Inter: Sommer 7; Pavard 8, Acerbi 8, Bastoni 6; Darmian 6, Barella 7, Calhanoglu 8, Mkhitaryan 7, Dimarco 7; Thuram 9, L. Martinez 6
Subs: Frattesi 6, Augusto 6, Dumfries 4, Asllani 6, De Vrij 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
18’ GOAL! MILAN 0-1 INTER (ACERBI)
We have lift-off! Thuram has Milan worried as he darts into the box and tries to take on Gabbia 1v1, but the eventual cross is cut out by Tomori for another corner. Dimarco's outswinger is nodded on and Acerbi is there unmarked from six yards to head home the finish! A big step towards the Scudetto for Inter.
49’ GOAL! MILAN 0-2 INTER (THURAM)
Inter are so close now! Thuram does it all himself, taking the ball inside from the left wing after gathering a long abll and firing a low shot past Maignan into the bottom corner. Fantastic finish from the Frenchman.
80’ GOAL! MILAN 1-2 INTER (TOMORI)
Chukwueze sends an inviting cross to Leao, who intelligently puts it back across goal to Gabbia, whose header is somehow saved at point-blank range by Sommer! Unfortunately for the keeper, Tomori is on hand to nod in the rebound. Game on!
94’ RED CARD – DUMFRIES AND HERNANDEZ
Dumfries and Hernandez are both sent off in the dying minutes after they got involved in a scrap. Milan fans are streaming for the exits now - they don't want to see the title celebrations.
97’ CALABRIA SENT OFF
One more Milan corner, and it immediately descends into more pushing and shoving....and another red card! This time for Calabria. This is absolutely incredible.
KEY STATS
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article