Milan and Inter draw in a derby decided in stoppage time

The "Nerazzurri" equalizer came in the 90+3rd minute after hitting the woodwork three times.

SoccerDino, Website Writer
Published: 09:19, 2 Feb 2025

Sérgio Conceição’s Milan and Inter battled to a tense 1-1 draw in the Milan Derby on Sunday evening, in a match filled with drama, near-misses, and late heroics.

The visitors, trailing for much of the game, salvaged a point in stoppage time at 90+3 minutes, finally breaking through after hitting the woodwork an astonishing three times.

The result keeps Milan in eighth place with 35 points, four behind the crucial sixth position, which guarantees qualification for European competitions. Meanwhile, Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, remain second with 51 points, just two behind league leaders Napoli, who still have a game in hand as they prepare to face Roma later today.

From the very first whistle, the match was played at a high tempo, with both teams showing urgency and intent. Inter thought they had taken the lead on two separate occasions, but both efforts were ruled out for offside. Milan, on the other hand, struggled to create clear-cut chances in the early stages but grew into the game as the first half progressed.

The first real chance for Milan came in the 39th minute, when Tijjani Reijnders found space inside the box and unleashed a powerful strike, only for Yann Sommer to deny him with an excellent reflex save. However, the Swiss goalkeeper could do nothing just a few minutes later.

As the clock ticked towards halftime, Milan found their breakthrough in the 45th minute, thanks to a decisive play from Rafael Leão. The Portuguese winger drove into the box and sent a low cross-shot towards goal, forcing Sommer into an awkward save. The ball rebounded straight into the path of Reijnders, who capitalized on the loose ball and smashed it home on the second attempt, giving Milan the lead just before the break.

Heading into the second half, Inter was forced to react, knowing that a defeat would be a significant setback in their title challenge. The visitors intensified their attacks, pushing Milan deeper into their own half. The equalizer seemed inevitable at times, but Inter’s repeated efforts were met with frustration as they were denied by the woodwork three times in a span of 22 minutes.

The first of these near-misses came in the 68th minute, when German defender Yann Bisseck rose highest to meet a well-delivered cross but saw his powerful header crash off the crossbar. It was a warning sign for Milan, but the home side remained resilient, clearing the danger and holding onto their narrow lead.

As the clock ticked down, Marcus Thuram nearly found Inter’s equalizer in the 82nd minute. The French forward attempted an unconventional effort, using his knee to redirect a low-driven cross, but once again, the ball hit the post and bounced away to safety.

The tension in the stadium was palpable as the match entered stoppage time, with Inter throwing everything forward in a desperate search for a goal. Their misfortune continued in the 90+1st minute, when Denzel Dumfries met another cross with a well-placed header, only for the ball to rattle off the woodwork for the third time.

Despite all the frustration, Inter refused to give up, and in the 90+3rd minute, their persistence finally paid off. A late cross into the box found Nicola Zalewski lurking at the far post. The Polish midfielder controlled the ball with his chest before laying it off for Stefan de Vrij, who made no mistake, firing a powerful strike past the Milan defense and into the net, securing a dramatic 1-1 equalizer in the dying moments of the match.

Milan was left devastated after coming within seconds of an important victory, while Inter celebrated a well-earned point, keeping them firmly in the title race.

Elsewhere in Serie A, earlier in the day, Fiorentina picked up a 2-1 victory over Genoa, overtaking Lazio for fifth place, although both teams remain level on 39 points. Meanwhile, Juventus responded well to an early setback against Empoli, storming back to claim a 4-1 win.

The match saw Portuguese talent Francisco Conceição make an immediate impact, scoring Juventus’ fourth goal just minutes after coming off the bench in the 85th minute. It was also a significant moment for Renato Veiga, who made his debut for the Bianconeri in the commanding victory.

With 23 matches played, Juventus now sits in fourth place with 40 points, seven behind third-placed Atalanta, and one ahead of both Fiorentina and Lazio, who still have a game in hand.

Later today, Roma, who will face FC Porto in the Europa League play-off, hosts league leaders Napoli in what could be a pivotal clash in the title race. A win for Napoli would allow them to extend their lead over Inter, while a defeat could reignite the battle at the top of the table.

The Serie A race remains wide open, and with plenty of fixtures still to play, the final stretch of the season promises to deliver more thrilling encounters and unexpected twists.

Updated: 09:19, 2 Feb 2025