Inter win heated Milan derby to seal 20th Italian football league title
Inter win the ‘away’ game 2-1 and seal their 20th coveted title to set off wild celebrations in the Italian capital.
Inter Milan have won their 20th Serie A title after a heated 2-1 win at AC Milan gave Simone Inzaghi’s side an unassailable lead in the standings with five matches remaining in the season.
A goal from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram in each half proved sufficient to secure Inter’s victory, with Fikayo Tomori scoring a late goal to reduce the deficit in the Milan derby on Monday.
The match also witnessed three red cards in stoppage time, with Milan being reduced to nine men as tensions flared, with Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria getting their marching orders along with Inter’s Denzel Dumfries.
Inter, who have lost only once in the league this season, hold a 17-point advantage over second-placed Milan.
EYES TO THE SKY ⭐⭐
WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF ITALY 🇮🇹🖤💙#ForzaInter #IM2Stars pic.twitter.com/cMPW7IvNwD— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) April 22, 2024
“I told the guys, ‘We find ourselves in a situation that’s never happened before,’” Inter captain Lautaro Martinez said after the game.
“We needed to take advantage of this opportunity because, look around, the entire stadium is ours now.”
Not even the pouring rain could dampen the spirits of the Nerazzurri and their fans.
For Inzaghi, this was the first Serie A title of his managerial career and his sixth trophy with Inter.
“There are so many protagonists of this success, first and foremost the players, but also the directors and chairman Steven Zhang, as anything we needed during this journey was provided for us,” Inzaghi said to DAZN.
“It’s an incredible sensation, we did something incredible and it’s only right to share it with as many people as possible.”
The San Siro was packed with supporters from both clubs, with Inter fans displaying two stars to symbolise their impending 20th Scudetto, spelling out a message to their rivals: “Our destiny, your nightmare.”
The match heated up in the opening minutes as both sides engaged in pushing and shouting following a late challenge on Inter’s Nicolo Barella. However, play resumed a few minutes later without any bookings.
After 18 minutes, the away fans erupted as Benjamin Pavard flicked a corner to a completely unmarked Acerbi, who had little trouble heading in the lead for Inter.
Just before the break, Inter keeper Yann Sommer made a superb reflex save on a Calabria effort, while at the other end, Milan keeper Mike Maignan blocked Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s shot moments later.
Four minutes after the break, Thuram doubled Inter’s lead by sending a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom-left corner.
As the minutes ticked closer to the end, fans set off flares in the stands, casting a foggy veil over the pitch.
Milan reignited the match 10 minutes before the time when a save from Sommer rebounded off the post and fell into the path of Fikayo Tomori, who headed it home.
In stoppage time, tempers flared as a scuffle broke out between the players, which resulted in Dumfries and Hernandez being shown red cards.
Yet another brawl ensued on the pitch minutes later, culminating in Milan’s Calabria receiving a red card for striking Inter’s Davide Frattesi.
As the referee sounded the final whistle, Inter players and staff began to celebrate the triumph.
Inter fans then moved the party out of the stadium and towards the Piazza Duomo, a well-known celebration spot in Milan, where thousands celebrated with fireworks and cheers, casting shades of blue and black against the backdrop of the Milan Cathedral.
