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Serie A | Milan 1-0 Inter: Estupinan blows title race wide open with derby success
Milan have won both editions of the Derby della Madonnina, as the Pervis Estupian goal reopens the Scudetto race, closing the gap on leaders Inter to seven points.
This was not only the Derby della Madonnina, but also a Scudetto showdown between first and second place. The Nerazzurri were unbeaten in Serie A since the 1-0 defeat in this fixture on November 23, followed by a draw and 14 victories. Marcus Thuram had flu symptoms, with Lautaro Martinez injured and on the bench anyway to cheer on his teammates, so it was an all-new strike partnership. Matteo Gabbia and Santiago Gimenez missed out following surgery, with Davide Bartesaghi not fully fit.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Luka Modric drilled inches wide from the edge of the area in the third minute after a wayward Yann Sommer pass out from the back.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan gathered from his own half and sprinted forward to force a tricky save out of Mike Maignan one-on-one, but Milan scored instead moments later.
Youssouf Fofana completed a give and go with Rafael Leao, then placed a smart through ball to send Estupinan down the left behind Luis Henrique, beating Sommer from a tight angle at the near post. It was the Ecuadorian’s first ever goal for the Rossoneri.
Pervis Estupiñán rockets AC Milan into the lead in the Derby della Madonnina
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2026
It was nearly 2-0 soon after, as Christian Pulisic pulled back from the left by-line and Federico Dimarco did just enough to stop Alexis Saelemaekers sweeping in from 12 yards.
After the restart, Piotr Zielinski stung Maignan’s gloves at the near post, while Rafael Leao scuffed well wide after a strong Pulisic counter-attack.
Fofana tested Sommer on another counter, but Federico Dimarco should’ve equalised on 54 minutes when ballooning over from 12 yards, as Mkhitaryan knocked down a Barella cross.
Leao also wasted a promising opportunity when sent through by Fofana, while Denzel Dumfries came off the bench and within 60 seconds had tested Maignan after pouncing on a loose ball, then Bonny nodded his cross over the bar.
Alessandro Bastoni was booked for a late trip on Rabiot, which ended up injuring the Inter defender and forcing him off the pitch.
Rabiot also saw yellow later and will be suspended for next week’s meeting with Lazio. Inter had the ball in the net on a corner during stoppages, but the referee had clearly blown the whistle beforehand to have it taken again.
Inter also had penalty appeals when Dumfries nodded the ball onto Samuele Ricci’s arm, but it was considered to be in a natural position, then the move continued and Manuel Akanji’s header was off target.
Milan 1-0 Inter
Estupinan 35 (M)
Player statistic
| Pervis Estupiñán (Assist: Youssouf Fofana) |
|
35' |
| 65' | Alessandro Bastoni | |||
| 69' | Denzel Dumfries | |||
| Adrien Rabiot | 80' | |||
| Luka Modric | |
89' |
