At the San Siro, Milan stunned the standings and reopened the serie a title fight; the Rossoneri beat Inter and cut a ten-point lead to seven. The match saw Marcus Thuram absent with a fever, Bonny start alongside Pio Esposito, and Estupinan emerge as the derby hero. Inter pressed for a last-second penalty that was not awarded, leaving the outcome decisive for the serie a picture.
Match report — key facts and turning points
Milan carried the initiative for long stretches and secured three points that immediately tightened the serie a gap from ten to seven — a shift that changes the math with ten matches remaining. Estupinan, chosen on the left flank by Allegri, produced the decisive contribution that the Rossoneri needed; the side registered a seventh consecutive positive result in the derby series (five wins, two draws). Inter began the game flat and imprecise, with a first half described as lacking the usual intensity; in the second half they pushed into Milan’s half without finding the crucial finish.
Team choices shaped the game: Allegri started Pulisic and Leao up front with De Winter at the heart of Milan’s defence, while Chivu gave the team’s keys to Zielinski and positioned Mkhitaryan on the left. Thuram was kept at home by fever and did not make the bench; Lautaro sat on the bench largely as a motivational presence. Bonny and Pio Esposito started together up front for Inter. A contested late moment saw Inter ask for a penalty at the last second, but no award changed the final scoreline.
Immediate reactions from coaches and leaders
Christian Chivu, Inter head coach, sounded the alarm pre-match when he said, “Today Marcus Thuram has a bit of fever and was not able to train: we hope he is 100% and available tomorrow. ” Chivu also framed his team’s preparation and mental approach in the lead-up to the derby.
Massimiliano Allegri, Milan head coach, underlined the unpredictability of the title race: “With a win the title race reopens? In football you never know what can happen. For the Champions we need five wins, if we get one tomorrow we will need one less. We have to work match by match trying to get results, which is the most important thing. ” Those remarks were offered before the clash and now take on sharper relevance given Milan’s result and its effect on the serie a standings.
Quick context — why this mattered
The derby effectively functioned as a high-stakes pivot in the campaign: Inter had been carrying a ten-point cushion before this fixture, and the defeat drops that edge to seven. The result revives mathematical hopes for Milan, while leaving Inter with a margin that still reflects control but is materially smaller in the serie a chase.
What’s next — immediate outlook
Both clubs now move quickly toward the next fixtures with the serie a calendar tightening; Milan will seek to build on momentum while Inter must respond to a derby setback and the fitness uncertainty around Thuram. Expect squad assessments, tactical tweaks and close monitoring of player health as the two sides press forward in a season suddenly more open than it was before kick-off.
