Inter will probably win Scudetto, but city of Milan belongs to Rossoneri
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 09.03.26. | 08:59
AC Milan celebrate a triumph in the Derby della Madonnina thanks to Pervis Estupinan (1-0)
Milan have done it again!
The Rossoneri claimed their second Derby della Madonnina win of the season, with Pervis Estupinan playing the unlikely hero and throwing the Scudetto slightly more open (1-0). The gap to leaders Inter is now down to seven points - and suddenly the title picture looks a bit more interesting.
This wasn't just another derby - it was a clash between first and second in Serie A. Inter arrived unbeaten in the league since losing this very fixture 1-0 in November, a run that included one draw and 14 victories. But the Nerazzurri's side was not at full strength. Marcus Thuram was battling flu symptoms, while injured Lautaro Martinez could only watch from the bench to support his teammates.
Milan had their own issues too. Matteo Gabbia and Santiago Gimenez were out after surgery, while Davide Bartesaghi wasn't fully fit.
The sparks flew almost immediately. Luka Modric came within inches of punishing a sloppy Yann Sommer pass in the third minute, firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
The black and blues responded with a lightning break of their own as Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst forward from midfield, forcing Mike Maignan into a tricky one-on-one save. But the next punch landed at the other end.
Youssouf Fofana combined beautifully with Rafael Leao before threading a clever pass down the left for Estupinan. The Ecuadorian burst behind Luis Henrique and caught Sommer off guard, squeezing a shot past him at the near post from a tight angle. His very first goal in a Milan shirt, and what a moment to nail it!
Milan nearly doubled the lead minutes later. Christian Pulisic cut the ball back from the byline, and Alexis Saelemaekers looked ready to sweep it home, only for Federico Dimarco to intervene at the last second.
Inter pushed harder after the break. Piotr Zielinski forced Maignan into another save at the near post, while Leao wasted a golden chance at the other end after a rapid Pulisic counter.
The game opened up as Fofana tested Sommer again on the break, but Inter's best chance came on 54 minutes when Dimarco somehow ballooned over from 12 yards after Mkhitaryan knocked down Nicolo Barella's cross.
Leao then failed to capitalise on another Fofana through ball, while substitute Denzel Dumfries instantly injected danger, testing Maignan with his first touch before Bonny headed his cross over the bar.
Still, the end brought all the drama. Inter thought they had a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time when the ball ended up in the net from a corner, but the referee had already blown his whistle for the kick to be retaken.
There were also late penalty shouts when Dumfries' header struck Samuele Ricci's arm, but the referee ruled the position natural and waved play on. The move continued, only for Manuel Akanji to head off target. Inter pushed, Milan held, and the derby ended with the Rossoneri celebrating again, while the Scudetto race suddenly has a fresh pulse.
SERIE A - MATCHDAY 28
Friday
Napoli - Torino 2-1 (1-0)
/Santos 7, Elmas 68 - Casadei 87/
Saturday
Cagliari - Como 1-2 (0-1)
/Esposito 56 - Baturina 14, Da Cunha 76/
Atalanta - Udinese 2-2 (0-1)
/Scamacca 75, 79 - Kristensen 40, Davis 55/
Juventus - Pisa 4-0 (0-0)
/Cambiaso 54, Thuram 65, Yildiz 75, Boga 90+3/
Sunday
Lecce - Cremonese 2-1 (2-0)
/Pierotti 22, Stulic 38 pen - Bonazzoli 47/
Bologna - Verona 1-2 (0-0)
/Rowe 49 - Frese 53, Bowie 57/
Fiorentina - Parma 0-0
Genoa - Roma 2-1 (0-0)
/Messias 52 pen, Vitinha 80 - Ndicka 55/
Milan - Inter 1-0 (1-0)
/Estupinan 35/
Monday
22.45: (2.25) Lazio (3.35) Sassuolo (3.50)
***odds are subject to change***