The Madonna is red and black! The 216th Milan derby (164th in the league) ends with a victory for Milan, a clear 3-0 that sends Mihajlovic's team into ecstasy and officially opens the crisis for Inter. The Nerazzurri, for the first time since the beginning of the season, are out of the Champions League area, the same area that the Rossoneri can at least place in their sights: now the points from third-placed Fiorentina are 6, many but not too many considering that we are only on matchday 22.
The result, round though it may be, shouldn't deceive more than necessary: the match went through long phases of balance and it was decided above all on the episodes. Above all the one that took place in the 70th minute, when Icardi, after having obtained it, sent a penalty kick to the post to beat Donnarumma. The result was still 1-0 and an Inter goal could have upset all scenarios. It didn't go like this and Milan, once the danger had escaped, spread to the joy of Berlusconi, present in the stands and finally satisfied with his performance.
“This is the most beautiful victory since I've been coaching – explained Mihajlovic in the press conference. – The derbies won like this remain in history, we are happy for all the fans, starting with the president. For once we were also lucky, it was better than winning in the 90th minute".
Mancini's mood was decidedly different, sent off for protesting in the 57th minute after an alleged penalty denied to his team (in reality it was a two-man free-kick in the area): the Nerazzurri coach discussed at length with Damato and his collaborators, before leaving the field and indulge in unbecoming gestures against the Milan fans.
“I gave the middle finger to those who insulted me – admitted the coach in front of the microphones. – The referees were the worst on the pitch today, having said that we lost 3-0 and even if I think the result is a lie, I congratulate the opponents. I take responsibility for what happened, we have to work to get back to the levels of a few weeks ago and put things back in order".
That of San Siro was an evening for inside or out, even if for different objectives: Inter were playing for the remaining chances of the Scudetto, Milan for third place. Mihajlovic chose a more muscular 4-4-2 than usual, with Kucka preferred over Bertolacci to support Montolivo, Mancini responded with a mirror formation, placing Jovetic alongside Eder with Icardi on the bench. After a Nerazzurri-tinged start (Donnarumma's saves on Eder and Brozovic) the Rossoneri found the advantage: Honda's cross from the right, Alex's commanding clearance and the ball behind Handanovic (35').
The classic match-breaking episode, just what was needed to break the balance of a tightrope derby. At the start of the second half Inter picked up the pace and in the 70th minute, after Icardi came on in place of the spent Jovetic, they had the equalizer from the penalty spot, but Maurito himself squandered it badly on the post. Wrong goal conceded goal: the oldest law of football could not remain indifferent in the face of such waste.
After just 3' Niang served Bacca in the center of the area and the Colombian, ruthless as usual, didn't miss the opportunity to clock in the most awaited match of the year (73'). Leading by two goals and with morale skyrocketing, Mihajlovic's team definitively took possession of the match and 4' later they found the 3-0 with Niang, opportunist in freezing Handanovic from close range (77').
And the result could have taken on even greater dimensions if Balotelli, who entered the final in place of the Frenchman, hadn't let himself be hypnotized by the Slovenian goalkeeper, who was very quick to respond to his right-footed shot. It would have been too much for Inter, who were still forced to accept a very heavy defeat, in terms of standings and morale.
The Curva Nord, up until now always close to the team, took the result very badly, so much so that they asked (or rather demanded) an interview with the players late at night (Zanetti acted as mediator) in the stadium garage. Milan returns to enjoy, Inter is macerated in a crisis as unexpected as it is undeniable. Power of the derby, capable of subverting predictions and moods like few other matches.
