Gabbia’s late bullet header wins derby for AC Milan

AC Milan triumphed 2-1 over Internazionale in Derby della Madonnina thanks to a late Matteo Gabbia winner.

Christian Pulisic fired Milan into the lead after just 11 minutes, driving past several Inter players before prodding the ball past Yann Sommer.

Inter grew into the game after going behind and they had their equaliser just before the half-hour mark. Lautaro Martinez slipped a good ball into the path of Federico Dimarco who fired his effort low and hard into the corner past Mike Maignan.

Milan had a succession of big chances to take the lead in the second half, most notably through Rafael Leao who struck a fierce effort straight at Sommer and Tammy Abraham who fired an effort wide of the post from close-range.

With missed chance after missed chance, it looked as though it was not going to be the Rossoneri’s day, until Tijjani Reijnders’ free-kick found Gabbia, with the boyhood Milan fan rising highest to power home a header and earn AC all three points.

This win takes AC level on points with Inter in Serie A and just three points off Torino in top spot with Lecce up next for The Rossoneri. Inter will have to quickly dust themselves down as next up for them is a trip to Udinese who sit third in Serie A.

Talking Point – A win to kickstart the Fonseca era?

After just one win in his five matches in charge of Milan across all competitions prior to thee derby, whether fairly or unfairly, pressure was already beginning to mount on new boss Fonseca. This felt like a huge opportunity for the Portuguese coach to try and kickstart his career in Milan and it is safe to say he has taken this opportunity with both hands.

The task was not an easy one, Inter had won all of the previous six Milan derbies and came into this clash unbeaten in their five matches across all competitions, most recently earning a terrific point at the Etihad against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. However, Milan arrived with a gameplan, with energy and with intensity. Fonseca will not be able to mould his image into this Milan team overnight, it will take time and this victory will buy him more time to further implement his ideas.

Up next for Milan in Serie A is Lecce, Fiorentina and Udinese; should The Rossoneri get a couple more wins on the board, we could be looking back at this game in a few months’ time as the night that Fonseca arrived as Milan manager.

Player of the Match – Tijjani Reijnders (Milan)

Reijnders was fantastic for Milan in midfield. He moved the ball well, completing 30 of his 36 passes, created two big chances and won four of his five duels. His crowning moment was a sensational assist for Gabbia to win the match for Milan in the 89th minute. A terrific performance.

Player Ratings

Inter: Sommer 7, Pavard 6, Acerbi 6, Bastoni 7, Dumfries 6, Barella 5, Calhanoglu 6, Mkhitaryan 6, Dimarco 8, Martinez 7, Thuram 6 Subs: Darmian 6, Frattesi 6, Asllani 6, Zielinski 6, Augusto 6

Milan: Maignan 7, Hernandez 7, Tomori 7, Gabbia 8, Emerson 7, Reijnders 9, Fofana 6, Leao 6, Morata 7, Pulisic 8, Abraham 6 Subs: Loftus-Cheek 7, Okafor 6, Chukwueze N/A, Pavlovic N/A

Match Highlights

6’ FIRST BIG CHANCE! – The ball drops for Morata inside the box and he fires an effort on target which Sommer tips over, this has been a bright start for Milan.

11’ GOAL! INTER 0-1 MILAN (PULISIC) – It is that man Christian Pulisic and it is a brilliant goal! The American bursts forward with the ball taking it past several Inter players before prodding the ball past Yann Sommer and into the back of the net.

28’ GOAL! INTER 1-1 MILAN (DIMARCO) – Inter are level! Federico Dimarco has equalised for Simone Inzaghi’s side after a brilliant move! Lautaro slides the ball to Dimarco inside the box and he fires an effort low into the bottom corner. Game on!

47’ A HUGE CHANCE FOR LEAO! – Emerson Royal fires in a wonderful ball from the right-hand side which Leao meets with a powerful header but Sommer is equal to it.

75’ A HUGE CHANCE ON THE BREAK! – Milan break forward with numbers, Abraham finds Leao on the left-hand side and he strikes an effort on goal but Sommer is equal to it! Milan so close to taking the lead!

77’ ABRAHAM MISSES A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY – That was Milan’s biggest chance to take the lead! Tammy Abraham is slipped through into the box and only has Sommer to beat but goes for power and drags his effort wide of the post.

89’ GOAL! INTER 1-2 MILAN (GABBIA) – Gabbia has fired Milan into the lead with a bullet of a header! The free kick is a brilliant one from Reijnders and Gabbia rises highest to power a brilliant header past Sommer who had no chance.

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