Inter Secure The Scudetto
Simone Inzaghi’s Nerazzurri wrapped up a weekend full of derbies as they welcomed their rivals AC Milan at the San Siro in a thrilling Derby della Madonnina commonly known as the Milan Derby.
Stefano Pioli who has been recently rumored to be heading towards Milan’s exit left prolific striker Olivier Giroud out of the starting lineup with Rafael Leao given the task to lead the Rossoneri’s attack.
It was a Derby with so much in stake for both sides, bragging rights being the main theme but this time round Inter Milan had the Scudetto in sight, while also looking forward to completing the league double over their biggest rivals. Pioli’s men saw this as a chance to spoil the party and perhaps postpone Inter’s celebrations but the first twenty minutes of the game were not in their favour.
Former Milan defender Francesco Acerbi opened the scoring for the league leaders, pouncing on a free header after just seventeen minutes in a half that saw both sides come so close to finding the back of the net.
Having won their last five Milan derbies and losing only once in the league this season (against Sassuolo back in September 2023), the odds were in Inter’s favour heading into the second half and Marcus Thuram broke the Rossoneri’s hearts when his solo effort went past Mike Maignan at the near post doubling their lead.
Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori nodded home from close range to half the deficit with less than ten minutes left to play but it was too little too late for Pioli’s side. Denzel Dumfries, on the pitch for not more than ten minutes got into an altercation with French defender Theo Hernandez resulting to the two of them being sent off. Emotions and frustrations got into the Milan players and their skipper was a victim of this as he was shown red after a violent conduct seconds before the final whistle was blown.
Two-star Inter
The wait for number twenty was finally over at the final whistle as Inter Milan sealed the Scudetto in an emphatic way (in a Milan Derby) with just five games left to play. As is customary in Italian football, the star above the logo is awarded to the club after winning 10 league titles and Inter Milan, on 19 Scudettos so far this season, were fighting for the second star.
Inter are top of the log with 86 points, 17 being the difference between them and second placed AC Milan. It’s their goal difference that really stands out in a successful season for Simone Inzaghi as his side, with an outstanding 61, have a goal difference more than the number of goals scored by 18 Serie A sides this season.
