2:1 – AC Milan wins Derby against all odds

Last week, we reported on the North London Derby Tottenham vs. Arsenal from the Premier League. This time, our match of the week comes from Italy. The Milan Derby with Inter against AC Milan (1:2) on September 22, 2024 – and once again the away team won. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic applauded from the VIP stand and likely told his neighbor that he already knew it was going to happen...

Seconds earlier, Matteo Gabbia (89th minute) headed the ball in after a free-kick cross from the right side by Tijjani Reijnders, scoring the 2:1 for AC Milan. In stoppage time, there were great celebration scenes in front of the Curva Sud.

"A lot was at stake for Milan"

"You can see the tension releasing from Milan," commented Serie A expert Christian Bernhard (South Tyrol) on DAZN, "it’s only the fifth matchday, but a lot was at stake for AC Milan."

September 22, 2024: What a leap of joy by AC Milan’s professionals after the 2:1 derby victory against Inter. Photo: Imago / ZUMA Press

Yes. Especially for new coach Paulo Fonseca, whom Milan manager Ibrahimovic had already criticized after the 1:3 against FC Liverpool at the start of the new Champions League phase, in his typical style ("I don't make jokes because no one understands my jokes. But criticism is part of the job, and nobody talked about other coaches."). Oh? Well, the names Thomas Tuchel and Edin Terzic were already circulating through San Siro...

"The team understands the moment, and we are working together to improve," Fonseca appealed ahead of the crucial match for him and the club. The runner-up had only secured one win so far.

With the deserved derby success, the "Rossoneri" under the Portuguese coach prevented a record in this encounter, which has been played since 1908.

The last six Milan duels had all gone to Inter, including the legendary 5:1 on September 16, 2023. Seven consecutive wins had never happened before. "Milan made the break," concluded Bernhard, looking at the Milanisti dancing and clapping in front of the fan curve.

"Inter has revived Milan"

In three of these six games, Milan had failed to score and won "against all odds." "Inter has revived Milan after six derby defeats," wrote Italy's football bible Gazzetta dello Sport. 

It’s exactly these surprises that make the Derby della Madonnina (named after the Madonna statue on top of the Milan Cathedral) so exciting and entertaining. Football trips to Italy are always marked by the Milan Derby.

Last season, Inter – another first in Italian football – secured the championship at Milan (2:1) in the derby and won the Scudetto for the 20th time.

Defending this title has now become even harder after the 1:2 loss in the first leg. 

Milan keeps Serie A more exciting than it has been in a long time. Inter, after the derby defeat, remains stuck in sixth place, while at the top, clubs like FC Turin (11 points), the 2023 champions SSC Napoli, and Udinese Calcio (both 10 points), coached by the German-Austrian Kosta Runjaic (53 / "Hey, Kosta!"), shine. Few experts would have expected them there before the season. 

When is the return match, AC Milan vs. Inter?

The "Derby della Madonnina" will be played for the 225th time on February 2, 2025, with AC Milan at home.