In another fiercely competitive Derby Della Madonnina, Inter Milan beat AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro.
It was a tense opening 45 minutes, but neither side could break the deadlock; Inter coming close first, but Mauro Icardi’s tap-in was ruled out for offside, and then AC Milan also had one ruled out for a near identical offside at the opposite end of the pitch.
The second-half started in similar fashion with Inter attacking with real intent, but the 222nd Milan derby looked destined for another 0-0 stalemate, that is, until Mauro Icardi stepped up to grab a winner in the closing stages of the match with a fine header.
So after another riveting Milan derby, what did we learn from the clash?
1. Lucas Biglia wins much-anticipated midfield battle
This Derby Della Madonnina offered a interesting match-up between Argentine hatchet-man Lucas Biglia and the boisterous Radja Nainggolan, who was appearing in his first Milanese derby since relocating to the San Siro, but it was the former who prevailed in the midfield battle.
The two industrious midfielders collided on a number of occasions in the middle of the park during the first-half, and the dual was proving to be an enthralling spectacle in an otherwise tense opening 45 minutes, but it was cut short after the Belgian was forced off through injury.
Nainggolan had to make way with only 30 minutes on the clock after another clash with Biglia proved one too many, with the former Roma man unfortunately coming off worse in the skirmish, and he was subsequently replaced by Borja Valero.
Biglia performed his duty well, anchoring the midfield while procuring the ball for the more technically able players to thrive further up the pitch, and at 32, the Buenos Aires-born midfielder is still proving his worth, but his exploits were not enough to prevent the club from suffering a late defeat.
2. Gonzalo Higuain underperforms in big games
Prior to the match, Higuain’s influence in supposed big matches was called into question by former Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi, who stated the former Real Madrid marksman “tends to make very little difference in the big games.”
That statement appeared to resonate with the Argentine striker in the opening exchanges, with the 30-year-old making just seven touches in the first-half, the second-least of any player on the pitch, and just four passes, again the second-least on the pitch.
In fact, the Rossoneri made just four touches in the Inter Milan box during the first 45 minutes, which is the worst they have managed this entire campaign – their previous worst came abasing Sassuolo last month (eight touches).
They also failed to register a single shot on target in the first-half, and Higuain once again failed to step up after the restart, as he looked isolated up top. He really failed to leave a lasting impression in his first Milan derby; the same cannot be said for his compatriot Icardi.
3. Mauro Icardi: An Inter legend
Mauro Icardi has now scored more Serie A goals for Inter Milan than Christian Vieiri after he netted his 104th goal for the Nerazzurri this evening, while subsequently condemning AC Milan in the process.
The goal ensures he has now netted five against the Rossoneri in the 13 derbies he has been involved in, as he also famously netted a hat-trick during the 2017 Derby Della Madonnina – this goal was also his seventh of the season in all competitions.
Mauro Icardi's game by numbers vs. AC Milan:
37 touches
27 passes
3 chances created
3 shots
1 goalHe's just so good at his primary job. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/Fgjr4QrWI6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 21, 2018
Once more Icardi produced the kind of performance we have become accustomed to from the Argentine: anonymous for large spells of the game, but continuously popping up in the final third and threatening in opposition territory.
He made only three passes in the first-half and had the least amount of touches of any player, but you always felt his presence was enough to keep the Milan defence on their toes, and in the last seconds of the match, he produced a moment of sheer striking quality, getting on the end of a pinpoint delivery to send the Inter fans into delirium.
4. Atletico Madrid foolish to let Vrsaljko leave
Sime Vrsaljko played a key role as Croatia reached the World Cup final over the summer, and he is already looking to provide a similar influence under the stewardship of Luciano Spalletti, which begs the question why he was allowed to leave the Spanish capital.
The right-back was mesmerising this evening, providing great width and energy down his flank, while also offering a defensive stability that nullified the threat of their Milanese rivals.
The Nerazzurri parted ways with Joao Cancelo over the summer – another baffling loan move from La Liga – but his industrious and tenacious presence has not been lost on this high tempo Inter side, as Vrsaljko has calmly slotted into his position for the past couple of matches.
He will go on to prove an astute acquisition for Spalletti this season, such is the ability of Vrsaljko, but the club will need to find a permanent right-back to fill the void consistently left by their previous insatiable counterparts.
5. AC Milan still without a clean sheet
AC Milan were mere seconds away from clinching their first clean sheet of the season, but an Icardi header in the dying embers of the match denied the club a first, meaning they are now the only club in the Serie A yet to keep a clean sheet.
Gattuso’s men defended resolutely enough, well, they had to for the majority of the match as they struggled to attack Inter with the same venom and verve as their eternal rivals, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal was inevitably penetrated by the poaching instincts of Icardi.
The goal has now left Milan in 12th position, taking Inter to third and only two points behind Napoli as well as six behind runaway leaders Juventus; but the questions will now start to be raised yet again for a Milan side who have not beaten Inter in the league since January 2016.
It now means the Rossoneri are six points off a top four position, and seven points off their fiercest rivals, having fired a blank in their previous two encounters in this famous football derby.
The post Inter 1-0 AC Milan: Late heartbreak in Derby Della Madonnina appeared first on Squawka News.
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