The Derby Della Madonnina has always been a fixture that evokes passion, pride and rivalry. It is a visual spectacle worth of the city it resides in, stylish, evocative but often threatening. This fixture is one of Europe’s elite derbies but it doesn’t just get its reputation on the aesthetics alone, this is a game that throughout its history has produced some breath-taking goals, epic score lines and has it decided titles. This is the Milan Derby in all its glory and these are some of its greatest moments.
Inter 6-5 Milan 1949
How much was expected of this Inter team before this cold November fixture isn’t clear. Milan, after all, had their front three of Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, this Swedish triumvirate was feared throughout Italy. The two teams had drawn 4-4 that year (but the season before) but few would have expected a repeat.
Both teams were chasing eventual champions Juventus and had robust and effective teams, Milan would finish second and Inter third that year. The game played on that cold November day, still holds the record for the most goals scored in this fixture and the game started with a bang, as five goals were scored before the 20-minute mark. The game was made even more special by the fact that Inter’s Amadeo Amadei scored the winner to complete his hat-trick with and incredible 26 minutes left and yet there were no more goals.
Milan 2-1 Inter 1984
Write a list of Milan’s top twenty best ever players and Mark Hateley will not appear on one. Write a list of cult heroes and he is top. At the time if this Derby Milan were pre-Berlusconi and had no resemblance to the powerhouse we see today. Before Silvio’s helicopter touched down in Milan, Ryde of the Valkyries blaring out, there was a relegation enforced due to a betting scandal, promotion and then one more relegation.
Despite this the Rossoneri managed to get back to Serie A to take on Inter in the Derby once again. They had not beaten the Nerazzurri in nine games but with the game tied the ball came to Mark Hatley who headed home the winner in typically British style. This was commemorated in later years in the form of a huge choreography at the Derby, he will always be a hero in the red and black half of Milan.
Inter 0-6 Milan 2001
Inter fans try not to remember this particular Derby and if they do they will simply remember the image of Marco Tardelli sitting back and simply mouthing ‘Mamma Mia’. The only issue Milan fans have when thinking of this game is wondering whether Gianni Comandini (remember him?) is a much of a cult hero as Hateley in 84.
The Italian scored three times in his Milan career and two of the goals came in this game. This was a result that would live in infamy for Inter, a warning of how not to approach and play in the Derby, goalkeeper Sebastian Frey came in for ridicule as he helped Inter hold the statistic for the being the team to be beaten by the biggest deficit in the Derby.
Inter 0-3 Milan 2005
Inter and Milan has often had the Scudetto riding on it but in 2005 it was the Champions League. The two met in the quarter finals of the competition and the Rossoneri were 2-0 up on aggregate before Andrey Shevchenko had given them a first half lead. German referee eventually had to call the game off amidst violent scenes as the Inter supporters started to throw bottles and flares onto the pitch after Esteban Cambiasso had an equaliser disallowed.
One of the more sombre derbies saw Milan goalkeeper Dida being treated for first degree burns after he was hit by a flare, Inter’s players tried to stop the Curva Nord continuing these acts, whilst the police in truth did little to prevent it.
Milan 0-4 Inter 2009
This was Inter’s treble season and the Derby Della Madonnina was an early turning point. It was only the second game of the season and the Nerazzurri were already scratching their heads after being held at home to Bari in the opening round. Milan had won 2-1 away at Siena and therefore had a chance to go five points clear.
After an hour the game was level but then Inter came to life and goals from Thiago Motta and Diego Milito were followed (after a red card for Gino Gattuso) by finishes from Maicon and Dejan Stankovic. In a season where Inter won everything, it was only fitting that they should destroy their cross-town rivals in the Derby.
