On Sunday evening, it’s blue and black versus red and black at San Siro as Internazionale play host to AC Milan in Serie A. Both sides go into the game within touching distance of the top, and that only adds spice to a match that’s already one of the best derbies in Europe. Inter have been Italy’s top team over the last five seasons as a whole, and their home league fixtures against the Rossoneri highlight their recent dominance.
Inter 2-0 Milan, 24.1.2010
Back in January, the Nerazzurri emerged as victors despite ending the match with nine men and playing much of it with ten. Goran Pandev played in Diego Milito for Inter’s first goal after ten minutes, a deserved lead for the better team in the opening exchanges. Wesley Sneijder gave Jose Mourinho an excuse to get angry by getting sent off for sarcastic applause after Brazilian defender Lucio was booked for diving after 25 minutes. Macedonian playmaker Pandev got himself on the scoresheet to make it 2-0 with a stunning free kick in the 65th minute.
There was still time for some last minute drama at the other end. Lucio received his second yellow card for a handball in the penalty area and his compatriot Ronaldinho had his penalty kick saved by a third Brazilian, Julio Cesar. Inter went on to win the treble, while Milan had to settle for third.
Inter 2-1 Milan, 15.2.2009
The same league places were achieved by these sides in 2008/09, and Inter’s home derby had the same result in February. The game was much less dramatic than Inter’s win in January 2010, with the hosts being almost home and dry by half time. Adriano put Mourinho’s side in front after half an hour but the goal was a controversial one as the ball went in off the Brazilian’s right arm. No such doubt over the second, a route one effort resulting in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s knock-down and a volleyed finish from Dejan Stankovic.
In the 71st minute, patient build-up by the Rossoneri sent the ball to Ronaldinho on the edge of the box, and his pass into the box gave Marek Jankulovski an easy pass behind a defender for Alexandre Pato, who easily netted Milan’s consolation.
Inter 2-1 Milan, 23.12.2007
A festive meeting of rivals in the middle of the 2007/08 season also resulted in a 2-1 Inter victory but this time they had to work for it. Andrea Pirlo’s brilliant free kick put Carlo Ancelotti’s side in front with less than 20 minutes gone but Inter dug deep and found the goals they needed to secure three points.
Julio Cruz remained balanced and composed in the area to drive his side level in the 36th minute, and just after the hour his fellow Argentine hit a low shot from the edge of the area that squirmed underneath Milan goalkeeper Dida. The Rossoneri went on to finish fifth.
Inter 2-1 Milan, 11.3.2007
You guessed it, another 2-1 win for Inter, this time towards the end of the 2006/07 season. It was the season immediately after Italy’s latest World Cup win and the Calciopoli scandal and Inter again had to come from behind to beat an implicated AC Milan after Ronaldo’s low drive had given the Rossoneri the lead against the run of play.
Cruz was on the scoresheet in this one too, equalising with a poacher’s finish after some great work by Ibrahimovic. The big Swede scored the winner against his future club, after having one disallowed, with fifteen minutes to go - Cruz repaid the favour with an assist. This result won’t have hurt for too long, as Milan took home the Champions League trophy a couple of months later.
Inter 3-2 Milan, 10.12.2005
Five years ago the Milan derby was a storming encounter. Inter took the lead from the spot, Adriano rolling it home after a controversial handball decision against Alessandro Nesta. Fifteen minutes later it was the turn of Andriy Shevchenko, who netted from twelve yards after a man in the Inter wall handled a free kick in the box.
Obafemi Martins restored Inter’s lead after an hour with a tap-in after Dida fumbled a free kick with the Nigerian waiting to pounce. The lead lasted until the last ten minutes when Jaap Stam headed in from a corner. Inter had the last laugh; Adriano won it in stoppage time with a towering header of his own.
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Tags: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Serie A