Inter Fight Back to Earn 1-1 Draw Against Milan in Tense Derby della Madonnina

The Milan derby ended in a draw for the first time since March 2022, as Inter came from behind to snatch a 1-1 result against AC Milan at San Siro. Despite dominating for large stretches and having multiple goals ruled out for offside, Simone Inzaghi’s men needed a late equalizer from Stefan de Vrij to deny their city rivals a rare victory in the Derby della Madonnina.

Inter Dominate but Struggle to Convert Chances

Inter came into the match boasting an excellent record against Milan in the second half of the Serie A season, remaining unbeaten in eight of their last nine such encounters (W5 D3). The Nerazzurri looked set to continue that dominance as they controlled possession and carved out numerous opportunities, particularly in the first half.

Federico Dimarco and Lautaro Martínez both found the net early on, only for their goals to be ruled out due to offside in the buildup. Inter’s attacking play was fluid, and they consistently troubled Milan’s defense, as reflected in their superior expected goals (xG) tally of 1.61 compared to Milan’s 0.6. However, poor finishing and positioning in key moments prevented them from taking the lead.

Milan Strike First Through Reijnders

Despite Inter’s dominance, it was Milan who broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime. Rafael Leão surged into the box and forced Yann Sommer into a save, but the rebound fell kindly for Tijjani Reijnders, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Milan, who had only won one of their last ten home matches against Inter (D4 L5), suddenly found themselves on course for a crucial victory, despite struggling to create clear-cut chances for much of the game.

Late Drama as Inter Finally Break Through

Inter came out after the break determined to level the score and threw everything at Milan’s defense. Their attacking persistence saw them hit the woodwork three times, with Yann Bisseck, Marcus Thuram, and Denzel Dumfries all being denied by the post.

Milan’s defense, backed by some crucial saves from Mike Maignan, looked set to withstand the onslaught, but Inter’s relentless pressure eventually paid off. In the closing minutes, Nicola Zalewski cushioned Bisseck’s cross with his chest, setting up Stefan de Vrij for a simple finish to bring Inter level.

Inter Stay in Title Hunt, Milan Left Frustrated

The draw sees Inter remain in second place, two points behind league leaders Napoli, while Milan stay in eighth, trailing Bologna by two points. The Rossoneri will look to bounce back when they face Empoli next weekend, while Inter return to action against Fiorentina on Monday.

While both sides will take positives from the performance, Milan will feel this was a missed opportunity, while Inter will rue their wastefulness in front of goal. Regardless, the Derby della Madonnina once again delivered high drama in one of Italy’s fiercest rivalries.