Matteo Gabbia propelled AC Milan to a late derby victory over Inter Milan on Sunday, scoring a decisive header that secured a 2-1 win and local bragging rights.
The defender rose to connect with Tijjani Reijnders' free-kick in the 89th minute, delivering a crucial Serie A win that helped Milan recover from a challenging early season. With this victory, Milan and Inter now share eight points, placing them both in seventh position.
The match saw Christian Pulisic give Milan an early lead with a brilliant individual goal in the 10th minute, but Federico Dimarco equalized for Inter just before the half-hour mark.
"They played with a lot of courage today and I think we deserved to win, I can't remember another team that have created so many problems for Inter like we did today," said Milan coach Paulo Fonseca in an interview with DAZN.
This win ended Inter's streak of six consecutive derby victories and prevented them from claiming the top spot in Serie A, currently held by surprise leaders Torino.
Milan, under pressure after a heavy defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week, demonstrated resilience and skill, particularly in the second half. They created several opportunities but faced strong opposition from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who made key saves against Rafael Leao and Reijnders.
Gabbia's late goal ignited celebrations among Milan fans, marking an emotional end to their derby struggles. "It was pretty difficult when things weren't going well, but this win will really help push us forward," Gabbia said to DAZN.
Inzaghi, Inter's coach, acknowledged his team's lack of cohesion, stating, "They were the better team tonight, we didn't play as a team and that's not something you can usually say about us."
With renewed belief following this victory, AC Milan looks to build on this momentum as they move forward in the season.
