THE CITY IS OURS!

Date / Competition: Serie A, 23 November 2025
Venue: Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Result: Inter 0-1 AC Milan

First Half – Inter Pressure, Milan Under Siege

• From the opening minutes, Inter came out aggressively, looking to dominate possession and apply pressure high up the pitch.
• Milan’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan was immediately called into action. One of his early saves came from Marcus Thuram’s header, stretching to keep the scoreline level.
• The Nerazzurri nearly broke through when Francesco Acerbi powered a header from a corner, but it struck the post, denying Inter a clean chance.
• Another moment of danger saw Lautaro Martínez volleying at goal; Maignan again produced a top-class reaction to tip it onto the frame.
• Despite Inter’s dominance, Milan weren’t totally passive. Christian Pulisic curled a shot just wide, showing that the Rossoneri could threaten on the break.
• In midfield, Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modrić worked hard to disrupt Inter’s rhythm, but Milan largely seemed content to absorb pressure and wait for their chance.

Second Half – Milan Strike & Maignan's Heroics

• The breakthrough came in the 54th minute. Milan broke swiftly on the counter: Youssouf Fofana won the ball in midfield, and the move proceeded with Alexis Saelemaekers launching a shot from distance. The ball was parried by Yann Sommer, but it fell kindly to Pulisic, who reacted quickest and tapped in from close range to give Milan the lead.
• Buoyed by the goal, Milan didn’t just sit back. They continued to absorb and counter, disciplined defensively, patient in build-up, and cautious not to invite too much risk.
• In the 73rd minute, Inter thought they had a way back in: after a VAR review, a foul by Strahinja Pavlović on Thuram gave away a penalty.
• Stepping up was Hakan Çalhanoğlu—normally reliable from the spot—but Maignan read the situation beautifully. He dived low and saved the spot-kick, then clawed away the rebound to preserve Milan’s lead.
• In the final stages, Maignan made further crucial stops — including from Andy Diouf — as Inter threw men forward, desperate to salvage a result.
• Milan held firm, and when the final whistle blew, they had secured a gritty but hugely important derby victory.

Tactics & Key Performers

• Tactical Setup: Milan lined up in a 3–5–2, with Pulisic and Leão leading the line.
• Defensive Discipline: The back three (Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović) and the midfield five worked in unison — Milan ceded possession but defended smartly, blocking key passing lanes and limiting Inter’s ability to finish their chances.
• Midfield Control: Rabiot and Modrić were pivotal, not only breaking up play but also distributing quickly to launch counters.
• Counter-Attack Efficiency: The goal came from a well-executed transition. Milan didn’t overcommit, but when the opportunity arose, they struck with precision and speed.
• Maignan’s Magic: Without doubt, Mike Maignan was the hero. His multiple saves — especially the penalty — were crucial. According to Gazzetta dello Sport’s ratings, he was the best player on the pitch.

Significance of the Result

• This win extends Milan’s unbeaten run in the derby to six matches (across all competitions), a powerful psychological edge.
• By keeping a clean sheet, Milan broke a long-standing trend: this was their first Serie A match against Inter without conceding since April 2018.
• The three points propel Milan up to second in the Serie A table - a real statement of their intent in the title race.
• For Inter, despite their possession and dominance, the inability to convert and a missed penalty raise real concerns — especially in big, high-stakes matches.

Conclusion

From a Milan perspective, this was a classic derby/Allegri performance: disciplined, opportunistic, and resilient. They didn’t dominate the game in terms of possession, but they made their moments count. Pulisic’s clinical finish and Maignan’s match-winning saves were the decisive factors.

The win is not just three points — it’s a statement. Milan showed that they can play on the front foot when needed, but also defend like a top side under immense pressure. In the context of the Serie A title race, this derby victory could be a real pivot.