Pulisic Wins the Derby as Milan Beat Inter 1-0
Milan earned a massive Derby della Madonnina victory as Pulisic wins the derby with the only goal in a tense 1-0 triumph over Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza. The result comes as a huge boost for Stefano Pioli’s side, who rise to second place with 25 points, just two behind Roma. Inter, meanwhile, remain stuck on 24 points and drop to fourth after failing once again to break down their Rossoneri rivals.
The hero of the night was unquestionably goalkeeper Mike Maignan, whose brilliance denied Inter repeatedly — including a penalty save against Hakan Calhanoglu — preserving a vital clean sheet in one of the league’s most intense fixtures.
🔵 A Fierce First Half With Inter Dominance
Inter started the derby aggressively, immediately threatening through Thuram’s powerful header in the 4th minute, only for Maignan to produce the first of his many spectacular saves.
The Nerazzurri maintained pressure, hitting the post twice in a frustrating opening half:
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Acerbi struck the right post with a header from a set piece.
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Moments later, Lautaro Martínez saw his close-range effort tipped by Maignan onto the opposite post.
Milan relied on counter-attacks, mainly through Leão and Pulisic, but Sommer was barely troubled aside from a late first-half warning shot from the American winger.
The half ended goalless, though Inter looked closer to breaking the deadlock.
🔴 Pulisic Strikes as Maignan Reaches Hero Status
The second half began with Inter still pressing, but Milan stunned them in the 54th minute.
A weak long-range effort from Saelemaekers was spilt disastrously by Sommer, and Christian Pulisic pounced instantly, converting the rebound and giving Milan a shock 1-0 lead completely against the rhythm of play.
Inter pushed harder afterwards, but Milan defended with compactness and discipline. Bastoni fired over, Thuram failed to convert half-chances, and substitute Bony couldn’t find a breakthrough.
The key moment arrived in the 74th minute when VAR awarded Inter a penalty after a foul inside the area. Calhanoglu stepped up — but Maignan delivered a phenomenal save, preserving Milan’s lead and deflating Inter’s momentum.
Akanji later squandered a golden chance with a miscontrolled header, and despite late substitutions, Inter couldn’t create the equalizer they needed.
Milan closed the spaces brilliantly in the final minutes, securing a crucial derby victory.
⭐ Key Takeaways
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Mike Maignan was the match-winner, producing world-class saves, including a penalty stop.
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Pulisic wins the derby with the decisive goal, capitalizing on Sommer’s mistake.
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Inter hit the post twice and wasted major scoring opportunities.
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Milan jump to 2nd place, while Inter drop to 4th after another derby disappointment.
