Final score

4 May 2008 15:00

AC Milan
11' (2nd half) Kakà
6' (2nd half) Inzaghi
Inter
31' (2nd half) Cruz
Referee: Roberto Rosetti / Linesmen: Calcagno, Griselli / Fourth official: Bergonzi
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Half time. AC Milan 0-0 Inter. In Genoa it's 0-0 between Samp and Roma.
46' Milan miss a great chance to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Inzaghi's close-range diving header from Kaka's right-wing cross is a whisker wide of the far post.
46' Vieira is onside as he races to meet Maniche's long ball upfield, but Kalac is quick out and the Rossoneri keeper gets there first.
45' Two minutes of added time.
41' Marek Jankulovski replaces the injured Giuseppe Favalli.
38' Gennaro Gattuso's low 30-yard strike is wide of the left post.
37' A chance for Inter. Maicon delivers a high cross from the right - Crespo's header is saved by Kalac.
36' Incredible miss by Filippo Inzaghi! The Milan number nine climbs in the six-yard box and heads Bonera's right-wing cross way off target.
33' Pirlo's inswinging free kick is easily caught by Julio Cesar at the back post.
32' Milan win a free kick on the left after Vieira fouls Seedorf.
29' Back under the Curva Nord, Nelson Rivas sweeps to safety to deny Inzaghi a chance from Gattuso's short cross.
28' Chivu's cross into the box is blocked by Seedorf, with Kaladze making the clearance.
27' Free kick to us out on the left wing after a Gattuso foul on Chivu.
23' Inter react and Hernan Crespo sends a low shot wide from the edge of the area.
21' Daniele Bonera's low cross from the right is pushed into the sidenetting by Julio Cesar. Milan are piling on the pressure.
20' Brilliant save by Julio Cesar from Inzaghi, who met Kaka's through ball in the box after beating the offside trap to perfection.
18' Favalli volleys wide after latching on to Chivu's headed clearance from Seedorf's left-wing cross.
17' Rivas heads behind to deny Kaladze a scoring chance from Kaka's free kick.
17' The first yellow card of the afternoon goes to Nelson Rivas for a foul on Kaka.
16' Inter come charging at the Rossoneri after Seedorf's cross is cleared. Maicon receives on the right and gets a decent ball in, but Kaladze clears.
13' Seedorf has a go from long range. The Dutchman's effort swerves off target.
12' AC captain Massimo Ambrosini shoots wide from distance.
9' Gattuso overhits his pass down the right for Bonera. Milan stay in the Inter third and Materazzi does well to shield the ball from the ever dangerous Pippo Inzaghi.
6' Inter pass the ball around in the Milan half and Vieira plays wide to Maicon who whips in a cross from the right. Nesta makes a headed clearance.
3' Pirlo's long-range free kick is way over.
2' Milan win a free kick 35 yards from goal after a Rivas foul on Kaka.
1' Welcome to a jam packed Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan's San Siro district for this afternoon's derby.
1' Game on. The Rossoneri get the derby under way.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 24 Rivas, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 14 Vieira, 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso; 28 Maniche; 9 Cruz, 18 Crespo.
1' AC Milan: 16 Kalac; 25 Bonera, 13 Nesta, 4 Kaladze, 19 Favalli; 8 Gattuso, 21 Pirlo, 23 Ambrosini; 22 Kaka; 10 Seedorf; 9 Inzaghi.
1' Any other result will see us clinch our 16th Serie A title if Roma lose to Sampdoria in Genoa.
1' We'll be Italian champions for the third year running if we beat our city rivals, who still need points to reach fourth spot and earn a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League.
Minute Text commentary
50' Full time. AC Milan beat Inter 2-1. With Roma 3-0 winners against Samp, our lead at the top is reduced to three points.
50' Chivu's free kick is over the bar.
49' Janulovski is booked for a terrible foul on Maicon. The free kick is about 25 yards out, and it will be the last kick of the game.
45' Four minutes of overtime.
45' Pirlo's free kick is over the bar.
44' Materazzi is booked for protesting.
44' Chivu is booked for a sliding challenge on Pirlo. The free kick is in a central position about 25 yards out.
42' Pirlo tries to poke under Julio Cesar from a tight angle but the Brazilian blocks, conceding a corner.
41' Full time in Genoa. Sampdoria 0-3 Roma.
40' Cristian Chivu's curling free kick forces Kalac into a diving parry. Corner.
39' Free kick to Inter in a dangerous position after a foul by Ambrosini on Suazo.
38' Materazzi's back-post header from Balotelli's corner takes a bounce before finishing wide.
38' Maxwell wins us a corner after some excellent work on the left.
36' Roma are 3-0 up against Sampdoria, Cicinho the scorer.
36' Inter bring on Maxwell for Nelson Rivas.
35' Maicon's long-range effort takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.
34' Nice work by Nelson Rivas. The Colombian defender makes a timely challenge on Pato to end a Milan counter.
33' The fourth yellow of the afternoon is shown to Daniele Bonera for a foul on Balotelli.
32' Carlo Ancelotti brings on Pato for Filippo Inzaghi.
31' GOOAAALL!!!!!!!! Julio Cruz' curls his free kick round the Rossoneri wall and into the far corner, giving Kalac no chance of making a save. AC Milan 2-1 Inter.
30' Pizarro has added to Panucci's opener to give Roma a 2-0 lead over Samp in Genoa.
30' Massimo Ambrosini is yellow-carded for a bad tackle on Julio Cruz. The free kick is in a central position about 25 metres from goal.
27' Inter replace David Suazo for Hernan Crespo.
27' In the meantime, Andrea Pirlo is booked for a foul on Mario Balotelli.
26' Roma have taken the lead against Sampdoria. If the scores stay the same, our lead at the top will be cut to three points with two games remaining.
22' AC Milan bring off Gennaro Gattuso and bring on Cristian Brocchi.
20' Roberto Mancini makes his first change. On comes Mario Balotelli for Nuno Maniche, and Inter switch from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-3.
20' Cruz' header from Chivu's corner is off target but Inter stay in attack and Maicon forces Kalac into a tipped save with a thunderbolt shot from 25 yards.
19' Gattuso beats Cambiasso to Maicon's right-wing cross and makes a crucial clearance to deny the Argentine a sure goal.
17' Another save by Milan's Aussie shotstopper. Kalac narrows the angle to block Crespo's shot.
16' Maniche tests Kalac with a fiercely struck low shot from 25 metres.
12' Inter back on the attack. Maniche rises in the box but his header from Maicon's cross is well off target.
11' Milan double their lead through Kaka, who slides past Julio Cesar from an acute angle. AC Milan 2-0 Inter.
10' Clarence Seedorf has a go from 25 yards. The Dutchman's drive swerves wide.
9' Kalac saves Maicon's deep cross to deny Cruz as the Nerazzurri look for a way back into the game.
6' The Rossoneri take the lead. Pippo Inzaghi steals in to head home Kaka's cross from the right. AC Milan 1-0 Inter.
5' Corner to Milan after Gattuso's cross is deflected over by Vieira. Ambrosini's header from Pirlo's left-wing corner is over the bar.
3' Maniche releases Cruz down the right. El Jardinero gets into the box but his cross for Crespo is wayward, allowing Kalac to make an easy save.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' AC make an attacking start to the second period. Gattuso's cross from the right is headed behind for a corner by Cambiasso.
Zanetti
5.78
5.78
Materazzi
5.62
5.62
Crespo
4.53
4.53
Cruz
6.48
6.48
Cambiasso
5.5
5.5
Julio Cesar
6.79
6.79
Maicon
6.26
6.26
Maxwell
6.23
6.23
Vieira
4.48
4.48
Suazo
5.8
5.8
Rivas
5.28
5.28
Chivu
5.6
5.6
Balotelli
6.39
6.39
Maniche
5.08
5.08
Average rating 5.7
4 shots on target 7
11 shots off target 5
21 fouls committed 15
8 corners 5
5 offsides 3
00 ball possession 00
Ancelotti v Mancini

The two coaches have met on 16 previous occasions. The Rossoneri tactician has won 7, drawing 3 and losing 6.

AC Milan v Inter

AC Milan have played at home to Inter 91 times since the Serie A became a one-division championship in 1929/30. There have been 31 Rossoneri wins (last victory 1-0 in 2005/06 Serie A, 27 draws (last draw 0-0 in 2004/05 Serie A) and 33 Inter wins (last win 4-3 in 2006/07 Serie A).

Disciplinary situation


AC Milan
Disqualified: -
Cautioned: Cafù, Favalli, Gattuso, Nesta, Oddo, Pirlo.

FC Internazionale
Disqualified: -
Cautioned: Balotelli, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Cordoba, Figo, Jimenez, Julio Cesar, Maicon, Stankovic.

Ancelotti's black May

According to the stats May is Carlo Ancelotti's worst month of the footballing year. His teams have won 18, drawn 12 and lost 10 of 40 league matches in the fifth calendar month - a points per match average of just 1.65. AC Milan failed to win a Serie A match in May 2005 and May 2007, collecting 3 draws and 1 defeat in 2005, and 2 draws and 2 defeats in 2007. Ancelotti's only two May victories in the last 3 seasons came in 2006 (3-2 away to Parma and 2-1 at home to Roma).

Milan and home defeats

The Rossoneri have lost 4 out of 17 home matches in the 2007/08 Serie A - against Empoli (0-1), Roma (0-1), Sampdoria (1-2) and Atalanta (1-2). If they lose again in Sunday's derby, it will be the first time AC Milan have lost 5 home games in one league season since 1981/82, when they were relegated to the Serie B. Since that season and the present one, Milan have lost 4 home league games in an entire campaign in 1996/97 and 1997/98, when they finished 11th and 10th respectively, and last season, when they finished 4th.

Inzaghi a brace away from 100th goal for AC

With his hat-trick against Livorno last weekend, Filippo Inzaghi has brought his Rossoneri tally to 98 goals (53 in Serie A, 9 in Coppa Italia, 29 in Champions League, 4 in UEFA Cup, 1 in European Super Cup and 2 in Club World Cup). His first goal in red and black came in a 5-2 Serie A home victory over Fiorentina on 9 September 2001.

Milan goalless once in last 22 Serie A games

AC Milan have failed to score in just one of their last 22 league matches - on 16 February 2008 when they drew 0-0 at Parma. The Rossoneri have scored a total of 39 goals in the other 21 games.

One Rossoneri clean sheet in last 12 Serie A matches

AC Milan's 1-0 away win against Torino on 22 March 2008 is their only clean sheet in 12 Serie A games. In the other 11 games they have conceded a total of 16 goals.

Milan's 10-game scoring streak at home

AC Milan have scored in each of their last 10 Serie A matches at home, netting a total of 22 goals. Their last home league fixture without scoring was the goalless draw with Juventus on 1 December 2007.

Milan and red cards

AC Milan are one of three teams with the fewest red cards (just 3) in the 2007/08 Serie A. The other two are Fiorentina and Reggina.

Milan, Inter & penalties

AC Milan have been awarded more penalty kicks (10) than any other team in this season's Serie A. They have scored eight and missed two. Inter and Parma are second with 9 spot kicks each.

Fair play derby

Inter have collected fewer yellow cards (62) than any other 2007/08 Serie A team. AC Milan are second, with 65 bookings (same number as Udinese).

A derby first for Inter?

If Inter win against AC Milan they will become Italian champions for the third season in a row, and for the 16th time in their history - with two rounds of the campaign remaining. It would be the first Scudetto triumph in a Milan derby since 1929/30, when the Serie A championship became a one-division tournament.

Inter, 211 minutes without conceding away from home

The Nerazzurri haven't let in an away goal in the Serie A since Tommaso Rocchi's 59th-minute effort in the 1-1 draw at Lazio on 29 March. A total of 211 away minutes have elapsed since then - 31 remaining minutes of Lazio-Inter plus whole games against Atalanta (2-0) and Torino (1-0).

Eighteen Inter players on target this term

Eighteen Inter players have hit the target in this season's Serie A - that's more than any other team.
In alphabetical order, they are: Adriano, Balotelli, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Cesar, Cordoba, Crespo, Cruz, Figo, Ibrahimovic, Jimenez, Maicon, Maniche, Materazzi, Stankovic, Suazo, Vieira, Zanetti.

Stankovic on fire against Milan

Dejan Stankovic has scored 4 times against AC Milan and Lecce - more than any other team. The Serbian midfielder has scored 57 goals since he has been doing his job in Italy.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(38) draws(28) defeats(34)

MILAN - AC Milan beat Inter 2-1 to avoid a fourth consecutive derby defeat - a result that sees the Nerazzurri's Serie A lead cut to three points as Roma won 3-0 against Sampdoria.

Filippo Inzaghi and Kaka scored within six second-half minutes to stun Mancini's men, but Julio Cruz reduced the arrears to set up a dramatic finale.

Milan's best chances of a tactical first half fell to Inzaghi, who headed wide crosses from Bonera and Kaka.

It was third time lucky for the experienced Italian, who stole in to nod Kaka's cross past Julio Cesar for Milan's opener on 51 minutes.

Kaka turned from provider to scorer in the 56th, sliding home from a tight angle to double the Rossoneri's lead after a defensive mistake by Vieira.

The Brazilian's goal prompted a vehement reaction from the Nerazzurri, Maniche and Crespo having shots blocked by Kalac before Cruz cut Milan's lead in the 76th minute with a curling free kick that sailed round the wall and into the far corner.

Inter launched a late onslaught on goal but Milan held firm for a victory that boots their prospects of Champions League football next season.

AC Milan 2-1 Inter (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Inzaghi 51, Kaka 56, Cruz 76.

AC Milan: 16 Kalac; 25 Bonera, 13 Nesta, 4 Kaladze, 19 Favalli (18 Jankulovski 41); 8 Gattuso (32 Brocchi 67), 21 Pirlo, 23 Ambrosini; 22 Kaka; 10 Seedorf; 9 Inzaghi (7 Pato 77).
Subs not used: 29 Fiori, 11 Gilardino, 27 Serginho, 44 Oddo.
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 24 Rivas (6 Maxwell 71), 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 14 Vieira, 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso; 28 Maniche (45 Balotelli 65); 9 Cruz, 18 Crespo (29 Suazo 72).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Jimenez, 16 Burdisso, 30 Pelé.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Rivas 17, Pirlo 72, Ambrosini 75, Bonera 78, Chivu 89, Materazzi 89, Jankulovksi 90+4

starting lineups

Kalac 12 Julio Cesar
Favalli 26 Chivu
Kaladze 23 Materazzi
Nesta 24 Rivas
Bonera 13 Maicon
Ambrosini 19 Cambiasso
Pirlo 4 Zanetti
Gattuso 14 Vieira
Kakà 28 Maniche
Seedorf 18 Crespo
Inzaghi 9 Cruz

substitutes

Fiori 1 Toldo
Pato 6 Maxwell
Gilardino 16 Burdisso
Brocchi 11 Jimenez
Gourcuff 30 Pelé
Oddo 29 Suazo
Jankulovski 45 Balotelli