Welcome to Overtime’s live blog of tonights Milan derby, one of the world’s most famous and fiercest rivalries. It’s a huge game for both sides as a win for the hosts could see them maintain pressure on the league leaders (albeit on goal difference) Napoli. For Inter, they currently sit in third, it could allow them to cut the gap on Milan from seven points to four who will no doubt be in high spirits following three wins in their last three.
Milan boasts a fantastic unbeaten league start of 10 wins and one draw, a record breaking start for them with a win today making it eight wins in a row for the first time since September 2006 under Carlo Ancelotti.
Both sides go into this one possessing some ruthless stats. The home side have an xG of 1.64 but have a Goal Average of 2.27. For the away side its an xG of 2 and a Goal Average of 2.55. Lets hope this points to an entertaining game.
Team news incoming….
Teams on their way out. Lets pray for a great game.
KICK OFF
3 mins-Good chance for Milan to hurt Inter as Rade Krunic catches Alessandro Bastoni in possession on the halfway line, he beats a cynical challenge before his cross to Zlatan Ibrahimovic is easily doubt with.
8 mins-PENALTY What is Franck Kessie doing. He’s dawdling on the ball on the edge of his area and Hakan Calhanoglu nips in, and at first it appears that the Turkish international tripped him but the referee Daniele Doveri does superb to notice its Kessie that brings him down.
VAR checking this….
Its given.
11 mins-GOAL-0-1 Huge courage shown by Calhanoglu to step up for the penalty against his former side and he fires it straight down the middle. First blood Inter and its the former enemy.
14 mins-Rafael Leao looks for an instant reply as he finds space from distance but his shot is straight at Handanovic. Ibrahimovic appeared to be unmarked at the back post, that may have been a better option.
17 mins-Free kick Milan in a dangerous position….
17 mins-GOAL-1-1 What a response from Milan and its a wicked ball in from Sandro Tonali. Fikayo Tomori runs off in celebration but it appears to have gone in off Stevan De Vrij.
Embed from Getty Images19 mins-Milan look fired up now with Leao in particular. He resembles another Milan great in George Weah with the way his gallops forwards. Quick and powerful.
25 mins-PENALTY A second penalty for Inter and its another error. This time from Fode’ Ballo-Toure as he gets his feet mixed up before bringing down Matteo Darmian. Stone wall.
Lauturo Martinez steps up for this one…..
27 mins-Penalty Save Its not a bad penalty but what a save from Ciprian Tatarusanu. The stand in keeper got down low to it and denies Inter.
One of the best opening half hours of a game I’ve seen in a while. Technically it’s been messy but you can’t fault the fight by both teams.
33 mins-The referee is having a good game himself he’s really letting this one flow. As I say that Milan win a free kick wide right with Tonali being wrestled by the scorer Calhanoglu.
34 mins-Inter clear the free kick but their counter is thwarted by Tomori. Good defending from the former Chelsea man.
Who says Italian football is slow…
Embed from Getty Images37 mins-Leao finds himself in space in the box but his shot fires straight at Handanovic.
Be interesting to see how the managers tweak this at halftime. From a neutrals point of view I hope it stays the same.
44 mins-OFF THE LINE Just as I say that Alessandro Bastoni gets down the left slips it back from the byline towards Dzeko, it misses him but goes to Barella inside the Milan box and his effort is cleared off the line by Ballo-Toure. Making amends for the penalty?
Embed from Getty Images45 mins-Great Chance Inter finishing the stronger of the two now as Lauturo Martinez finds a yard in the box and drags a shot wide.
HALF TIME
What a first half that was, played at such a high tempo with both sides exchanging blows. Two goals, two penalties, one scored, one missed, this half had everything. Inter finished it strongly but I think so far the score is a fair reflection of the game.
Milan Sub Pierre Kalulu is coming on for Ballo-Toure.
SECOND HALF
15 league games between these two without a red card according to BT…..
48 mins-Looked as though the ref gave an offside against Darmian but his appeals for a hand ball against Kalulu has seen the ref reverse his decision. The cross goes in but Dzeko just gets underneath the cross and it floats over the bar.
53 mins-Free kick for Milan in a good position but the delivery was so poor it actually confused the Inter defence and almost leads to a chance for Simon Kjaer.
55 mins-Close Martinez receives a precise through ball in from Barella before leaving Tomori behind and working an angle for himself but his shot deflects out for a corner.
56 mins-Great Chance Perisic dinks a wonderful ball to the back stick for Calhonoglu but his volley is just wide of the far post.
58 mins-Substitution for Milan. Alexis Saelemaekers and Ante Rebic on for Brahim Diaz and Leao.
68 mins-Substitution Barella is off and the experienced Arturo Vidal is on .
69 mins-Close Inter clear the corner but Milan scrap for it and it ends up at Zlatan’s feet. Its a half chance but across the years that’s all he’s needed, on this occasion he curls it wide with his weaker foot. Good effort.
71 mins-Substitution Tonali off, Ismael Bennacer on.
Embed from Getty Images72 mins-What A Chance Dzeko battles well for a ball in the box and squares it to Vidal on the penalty spot but his side footed effort is blocked, not once but twice. Best chance of the half.
75 mins-Substitution Dzeko releases the ball to Darmian and signals for a change. He’s off for Joaquin Correa with Denzel Dumfries also coming on for Darmian who is also hobbling. No surprise as the former United man has ran his socks off. Arguably Inter’s best player.
80 mins-Milan press Inter really well their and win a free kick in a dangerous position, by that I mean shooting distance for Ibrahimovic who immediately grabs it.
82 mins-Good Save It’s a good strike from the big Swede but it appeared to go through the Inter wall a little too easily. Despite this Handanovic was equal to it.
83 mins-Great Chance From nowhere Milan now have Inter penned in and a ball is whipped into the back stick and Ibrahimovic knocks it down for Bennacer but his first time side foot volley is smashed over the bar.
84 mins-Substitution Tiemoue Bakayoko is on for Krunic and two for Inter with Alexis Sanchez coming on for Martinez and Federico Dimarco coming on for Bastoni.
86 mins-Milan continue to press for the winner as a corner is whipped in and flicked into the arm of Correa by Rebic with the hosts asking for a penalty, but its rightly waved away. Inter can’t seem to get out now.
88 mins-Milan again come forward and Saelemaekers screams for a penalty as his cross is blocked by the arm of Vidal but it seemed the correct decision.
90 mins-WOW Milan wonder how they haven’t taken the lead. Saelemaekers drives forwards and fires a low drive from distance that cannons off the post. The ball presents itself to Kessie on the penalty spot and he places it wide. Milan really pressing for the three points now.
Three minutes added on will there be late drama….
FULL TIME
It ends all square in an eventful game between these two footballing giants. Inter dominated for large parts of that second half but in those final 10 or so minutes Milan got on top of Inter and could’ve pinched it themselves.
The home side may be kicking themselves at the fact they could’ve leapfrogged Napoli into first by two points but as it stands the both of them sit on 32 points after 12 games. Inter remain in third on 25 points.
A fantastic advert for Italian football and all that is left for me to do is to thank you for following my live blog. Any feedback is appreciated.
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