Internazionale – AC Milan: Milan Complete A Potentially Title-Impacting Turnaround (1-2)

The Derby della Madonnina is always one of the most anticipated fixtures in a Serie A season, but in recent history, its result has rarely proven massively consequential in the title race. This time, though, there was lots more than just pride at stake, as league-leaders Internazionale hosted third-placed AC Milan with just four points separating them.

Tactical analysis and match report by Neel Shelat.

Inter’s comeback win over Venezia prior to the most recent international break ensured they preserved their unbeaten record at home, and the last-minute winner meant that they still had only dropped points once in the new year, which was in the goalless draw at Atalanta. Having played one match fewer than the two sides directly below them in the table, the defending Simone Inzaghi side knew that success in this match could prove to be a statement victory in their title defense.

Milan, meanwhile, dropped points in each of their last two league matches, with a 0-0 draw against Juventus preceded by late heartbreak at home to Spezia, where the referee’s decision not to play advantage late on in the match not only cost them their winning goal, but it also allowed their opponents to get up the other end and score. Stefano Pioli’s men clearly needed to turn things around if they were to harbour any hopes of winning their first league title in over a decade, and there could be no better opportunity of doing that than in a derby against the league leaders.

Unsurprisingly, Inter . . .