INTER STATS | Calhanoglu's goal, Handanovic's milestones

The last time a Milan derby had ended all-square was back in April 2018. Aside from Hakan Calhanoglu’s converted penalty and Stefan de Vrij’s own goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at San Siro there were still many talking points. Ciprian Tatarusanu saved a spot kick from Lautaro Martinez and Alexis Saelemaekers hit the post in the dying moments in what was a nail-biting encounter. 

The game got off to a breakneck start, with both sides finding the net in the first 20 minutes of play. The last time this happened was back in 1999 when the derby ended 2-2, with Bruno N’Gotty (own goal) and Leonardo getting on the scoresheet within 15 minutes of play.

The Nerazzurri came away from the derby with a feeling of regret, having dominated play for nearly the whole match. Yet Inter now boast an unbeaten streak of 24 matches at San Siro: the longest run of such kind since November 2010, when they managed 42 games without falling to defeat.

Statistically-speaking, November is a cursed month for Inter in derbies: they haven’t managed to beat Milan in this month in the last 11 games, drawing eight and losing three times. Inter's last victory over the Rossoneri in November dates back to 18 November 1990 1-0, thanks to a Nicola Berti goal.

Not since 12 December 2004 had Inter missed a penalty and also scored one in the same match. It was Adriano who was both the hero and villain back then, with the Brazilian taking both spot kicks in Inter’s game against Siena.

CALHANOGLU PUTS ON A SHOW IN HIS FIRST DERBY FOR THE NERAZZURI

Having played in seven derbies for Milan without scoring, Calhanoglu made his Inter debut in the cross-city clash and was quick to leave his mark. The Turk calmly slotted home his penalty early on in the encounter, celebrating in front of the Rossoneri fans. It’s the third time the 27-year-old has scored a penalty in Serie A, having netted against Roma in June 2020 and against Lazio in December the same year. 

In the era of three points for a win Calhanoglu is the fourth player to have scored in a Milan derby against his former club, following in the footsteps of Hernan Crespo (2006), Ronaldo (2007) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2010).

MILESTONES: HANDANOVIC CLOSES IN ON RIVERA

In Sunday’s derby Samir Handanovic played his 527th game in Serie A, meaning that he’s now joint-11th with Gianni Rivera for all-time appearances in the competition. The Slovenian is within touching distance of making the top ten: Enrico Albertosi sits on 532, while Silvio Piola is on 537.

It was Handanovic’s 18th Milan derby in Serie A, as many as Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba managed. In the era of three points for a win only Javier Zanetti (36) has made more appearances in the fixture.

The 1-1 draw also saw other Inter players break some personal records. Alessandro Bastoni featured in Serie A for the 100th time (7 for Atalanta, 24 for Parma, and 69 for Inter), while Stefan de Vrij made it a double century of matches played in the Italian top flight (95 for Lazio, 105 for Inter). In doing so the defender has become only the second Dutchman to make 200 appearances or more in Serie A in the era of three points for a win, after Clarence Seedorf achieved the same feat (396 games).

Unfortunately de Vrji conceded an own goal – his second in Serie A – to draw the game level. The last player to put the ball into his own net in a Milan derby was Samir Handanovic, in December 2017.