Inter vs. AC Milan: Score, Grades, Reaction from Milan Derby
Inter and AC Milan played out a scoreless draw in a disappointing Milan derby on Sunday at the San Siro.
The result satisfied neither team, with both remaining firmly in midtable after sharing their first scoreless draw since 2004.
Both teams had goals ruled out, but Inter will feel perhaps more aggrieved after dominating the final third of the match. The Nerazzurri had two strikes disallowed after the break, including a controversial decision in the 72nd minute.
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Because of the pedigree of the two teams, the Milan derby will always draw attention. But with both sides struggling this season, Sunday's game paled in comparison to past contests, as The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg noted in his live blog of the match:
"It’s the Milan derby! But it’s also a mid-table clash in Serie A! But is the Milan derby! One of the biggest games in the world! But, well, it is a mid-table clash in Serie A, 10th against ninth, a reminder that Inter and Milan are a sorry shadow of their old selves. What has happened to these two? In 2003, this was a Champions League semi-final. Milan were the European champions that year and in 2007; it’s only five years since Jose Mourinho led Inter to European glory. And now? …I’ll level with you, if I wasn’t being paid to watch this match, you can rest assured that I would be watching episodes of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia on Netflix instead.
"
It's true that both teams entered the match mired in the mediocrity of midtable, but both still had plenty of motivation to play hard and to win. Both can still qualify for the UEFA Europa League via their league position, but Sunday's draw made such a scenario even more unlikely.
Up next, 10th-placed Inter host Roma on Saturday. Milan, one spot ahead in ninth, play at Udinese the same day.
Inter and manager Roberto Mancini built momentum heading into the derby with a 3-0 win at Hellas Verona the last time out, but the Nerazzurri were unable to break through Milan's defence despite dominating the latter stages of Sunday's showdown.
Injuries have hampered Milan and manager Filippo Inzaghi all season, and the future of the club is uncertain. Rumours continue to link Chinese investors with a bid to buy out owner Silvio Berlusconi, according to ESPN FC's Ben Gladwell.
Inter started brightly but didn't turn their superiority into a chance until the 11th minute, when Hernanes unleashed a powerful effort on goal from long distance. Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez dived to tip the ball over the bar and keep the match scoreless.
Three minutes later, Jeremy Menez wriggled free down the left with a mazy run into Inter's half. The Milan man crossed to the back post, but the Nerazzurri cleared.
Suso put a pair of shots on target for Milan in quick succession, forcing saves from Samir Handanovic in the 18th and 20th minutes. At the other end, Hernanes hit a free-kick over the bar in the 27th minute.
As half-time approached, Milan continued to grow in confidence, and in the 29th minute, the Rossoneri had a goal disallowed. Suso curled a free-kick into Inter's box, and after the ball bounced around the goalmouth, Alex slammed in a volley from close range. However, the referee blew his whistle and ruled out the strike for offside earlier in the sequence.
"If you’re not watching the Milan derby, you’ll be unsurprised to learn that it’s an awful game between awful teams.
— Kevin McCauley (@kevinmccauley) April 19, 2015"
After the match went to half-time with no score, Milan's Giacomo Bonaventura dragged a low shot wide of the post in the 47th minute.
It was Inter's turn to have a goal ruled out in the 50th minute, with Rodrigo Palacio's strike disallowed for offside during the buildup after the Nerazzurri broke forward at pace.
Palacio and Inter came close again in the 57th minute. Mauro Icardi nodded down a long ball for Palacio, who rounded Lopez and attempted a shot, which the covering Philippe Mexes blocked. Palacio appealed for handball, but the referee turned down his claim.
Inter appealed for a penalty again in the 63rd minute, when Hernanes' shot struck the hand of Milan's Luca Antonelli inside the box. Again the referee denied the Nerazzurri's claim, although replays showed the ball making clear contact with Antonelli's outstretched hand.
The Nerazzurri kept up the pressure and put the ball in the net again in the 72nd minute, only to have another goal disallowed. Inter broke forward at pace again, with Hernanes crossing into the middle to cap off a quick counter. Mexes turned the ball into his own net, but the referee waved off the goal, ruling that Palacio had fouled Antonelli in the buildup.
Inter were in control, and more chances followed as full-time approached. In the 79th minute, substitute Joel Obi redirected a cross on target at close range, but Lopez was in position to block—though he knew little about the save. Two minutes later, Danilo D'Ambrosio fired narrowly over the bar from outside the box.
Milan mounted a rare attack in the 85th minute, hitting Inter on the counter following a giveaway. Mattia Destro worked himself into a promising position with the ball stuck to his feet but could only fire weakly at Handanovic, who saved.
Inter had another good chance in the 90th minute when Icardi pulled down a long pass and evaded multiple defenders with superb close control, but he wound up firing wide.
Grades
| Diego Lopez | 7.3 |
| Ignazio Abate | 6.9 |
| Alex | 7.1 |
| Philippe Mexes | 8.0 |
| Luca Antonelli | 7.3 |
| Andrea Poli | 7.1 |
| Nigel De Jong | 7.1 |
| Marco van Ginkel | 7.0 |
| Suso | 6.9 |
| Jeremy Menez | 6.3 |
| Giacomo Bonaventura | 6.7 |
| Gabriel Paletta (for Alex, 70') | 6.2 |
| Mattia Destro (for Suso, 73') | 6.1 |
| Alessio Cerci (for Poli, 81') | 6.3 |
| Samir Handanovic | 7.1 |
| Danilo D'Ambrosio | 6.9 |
| Juan Jesus | 8.5 |
| Gary Medel | 7.0 |
| Andrea Ranocchia | 7.2 |
| Nemanja Vidic | 7.9 |
| Assane Demoya Gnoukouri | 6.2 |
| Hernanes | 7.2 |
| Rodrigo Palacio | 6.4 |
| Mauro Icardi | 6.5 |
| Mateo Kovacic | 7.5 |
| Joel Obi (for Gnoukouri, 67') | 6.5 |
| Xherdan Shaqiri (for Kovacic, 77') | 6.4 |
Reaction
Inter coach Robert Mancini, via Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):
"I am consoled by the way we played in the first 20 minutes and the entire second half. It’s a shame we didn’t win, but we can do nothing else.
…
It was a totally clear penalty. Completely clear. The referee saw perfectly well last week on Guarin’s handball, he considered that voluntary, so why not this one?
I haven’t complained at all for 20 matches, but the last two we’ve had a few things against us. I don’t mean the disallowed goal, as I saw the replay and it was definitely a Palacio foul.
We tried to win from start to finish and didn’t manage it. Milan defended well and were fortunate in some circumstances. When things go like that, you can’t do anything about it. I hope next year it will be different.
I hope all the bad luck, the penalties not awarded, etc can go our way next season.
"
AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, via Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):
"(The penalty decisions) were very close, I think it was involuntary. It’s true we’ve seen penalties given for less, but I generally wouldn’t give a penalty for that.
I expected more in that period from the 20th minute to half-time, when we had a lot of possession, moved well down the wings and had several chances. We should’ve scored. My team gave its all, both sides tried to win it and we know the derby weighs heavily on a campaign. We could’ve won, we could’ve lost, so in the end the draw is the right result.
If we lost out on our targets, it certainly wasn’t because of this game, but rather the results in January when we had an injury crisis. We must battle it out with everyone and be more present in the box when the crosses do come in.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
