Milan ended their six-game Derby della Madonnina losing streak to shock rivals Inter with Christian Pulisic and a last-gasp Matteo Gabbia header, rescuing Paulo Fonseca’s job.
The Rossoneri were in crisis after one win in five games this season, falling 3-1 to Liverpool in the Champions League midweek. Mike Maignan shook off an injury, but Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Ismael Bennacer, Marco Sportiello and Alessandro Florenzi were on the treatment table. Coach Fonseca switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata together, dropping Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Strahinja Pavlovic. Federico Dimarco and Lautaro Martinez returned to the Inter starting XI after a 0-0 draw away to Manchester City.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Yann Sommer made the first save on Morata after good work from Tijjani Reijnders and Pulisic went on a strong run only to hesitate for the finish.
It was a warning, as moments later Pulisic did go all the way, robbing Henrikh Mkhitaryan in midfield and surging forward through a crowd of players to prod the finish past Sommer.
THE DREAM START!
A clinical finish from Christian Pulisic gives AC Milan an early lead ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/xhzPnNpkuC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 22, 2024
Lautaro Martinez hit a half-volley over from 12 yards as Denzel Dumfries knocked down the Dimarco cross and the equaliser arrived before the half-hour mark.
Dimarco knocked down a Nicolò Barella cross-field pass for Lautaro Martinez, who drew defenders to him on the edge of the area, dummied a shot and instead handed it back to Dimarco for the precise angled drive.
Federico Dimarco levels the game up after wonderful footwork from Lautaro Martinez 🪄
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/igEgMVEfni
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 22, 2024
Inter almost turned the game around completely when Marcus Thuram turned his marker to get the shot away from 10 yards, but Mike Maignan got down for a fingertip save to push it away from goal.
Within seconds of the restart, Sommer had flown to palm a Rafael Leao header away from Emerson Royal’s cross from the by-line. The goalkeeper ran a huge risk moments later with a heavy touch and just about kicked it away before Abraham could take advantage for Milan.
Matteo Gabbia made a desperate sliding tackle on Dimarco in the box, then Rafael Leao dribbled away from three to pull back for Tijjani Reijnders, the deflected Milan shot bringing a tough save out of Sommer.
There was controversy at the 65th minute when the referee awarded a penalty to Milan, but viewing it again on the VAR monitor confirmed the ball struck Lautaro Martinez’s shoulder and not his arm.
Maignan had to get down for the save on Lautaro Martinez’s volley on the turn, then Gabbia made a decisive block to spark the rapid counter-attack, from which Sommer parried the Leao angled drive.
Abraham sprung the offside trap on an inspired Reijnders pass only to flash the finish across the face of goal, inches wide of the far post.
Gabbia had been so strong in defence throughout the match, but he popped up at the other end too, rising behind Davide Frattesi to nod the Reijnders free kick into the near top corner and give Milan a much-needed victory.
LATE DRAMA IN THE MILAN DERBY! 🍿
Boyhood fan Matteo Gabbia may have just scored an 89th-minute winner! pic.twitter.com/4Lcm6qpULE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 22, 2024
Matteo Darmian had a relatively free header on Dimarco’s cross, but nodded it over the bar in stoppages. Noah Okafor incredibly fired over an open goal with the last kick of the game.
This was their first derby win since September 2022.
Inter 1-2 Milan
Pulisic 10 (M), Dimarco 28 (I), Gabbia 89 (M)
Player statistic
| 10' |  |
Christian Pulisic | ||
| Henrikh Mkhitaryan |  |
18' | ||
| Federico Dimarco (Assist: Lautaro Martínez) |
|
27' | ||
| 38' | |
Youssouf Fofana | ||
| Hakan Calhanoglu | |
40' |
| Kristjan Asllani | |
86' | ||
| Federico Dimarco | |
88' | ||
| 89' | |
Matteo Gabbia (Assist: Tijjani Reijnders) |
Match statistic
If Milan had a bit more composure and if not for Sommer, it would’ve deservedly been 5-1 or 6-1 in that 2nd half. Comprehensively beaten. Let’s hear from ‘calha’….
No exaggeration if I said that after Venezia, that was easily Milan‘s easiest win of the season. found it more difficult vs parma. Bravo Calha….
Outplayed in the last 30 minutes and very rare shaky defense
Without CALHANOGLU and Barella, inter is no better than a middle table team.
Frattesi doesn’t fit the team and should be sold.
Where’s the kid English Rosario?
Milan is gonna loose for another 50 years nonsense that he kept spewing here.