In a thrilling and historic Derby della Madonnina, Inter Milan secured their 20th Italian title by defeating arch-rivals AC Milan.
The match, held at the San Siro, witnessed Francesco Acerbi’s unmarked header from Benjamin Pavard’s flick-on corner, propelling Inter into an early lead. As tensions heightened, Marcus Thuram seized an opportunity, latching onto a long ball to score Inter’s second goal with a powerful strike into the bottom corner.
Milan fought back momentarily when England’s Fikayo Tomori nodded in from close range, injecting a brief glimmer of hope for the Rossoneri. However, the intense contest saw tempers flare in injury time, resulting in three red cards. Theo Hernandez and Denzel Dumfries were sent off for their involvement in a brawl, while Milan’s captain Davide Calabria received a red card for violent conduct, leaving the hosts with nine men.
Amidst jubilant scenes, Inter players and coaches stormed the pitch at the final whistle, celebrating their historic victory in a match where Milan served as the nominal home team. With the win, Inter extended their lead to a formidable 17 points over second-placed Milan, with only five games remaining in the season. Despite missed opportunities for a larger margin of victory, the triumph marked the first time in the 116-year history of the Milan derby that the Serie A title was clinched.
Reflecting on the achievement, Inter’s captain, Martinez, expressed a mix of emotions, stating, “I feel like crying because we worked so hard, we deserve this joy.” However, he emphasized the team’s determination to maintain their momentum, acknowledging their aspirations for continued success. As Inter basked in the glory of their triumph, their sights remained firmly set on future conquests, fueled by the desire to add more trophies to their illustrious history.