Milan 1-0 Inter: Estupiñán gives the Rossoneri a seventh consecutive derby without defeat
AC Milan have won the Derby della Madonnina, beating Inter 1-0 thanks to a goal from Estupiñán, who scored what could well be the most important strike of his career. With this result, the Rossoneri extend a remarkable run: seven consecutive derbies without an Inter victory. Five wins and two draws in the last seven Milan derbies — a record that has completely flipped the balance of power in the city’s greatest rivalry.
Allegri proves his big-game credentials once again
Manager Massimiliano Allegri has once again demonstrated his ability to deliver in the biggest fixtures. The Rossoneri boss beat Simone Inzaghi in both league derbies this season, 1-0 on each occasion, securing a perfect 6 points out of 6 in the head-to-head battle. Allegri’s tactical blueprint effectively nullified Inter’s attacking threats and stifled their build-up play. A fascinating historical footnote: the last time a Milan coach won both league derbies in the same campaign was back in 2010-2011 — and that coach was also Allegri. A circle closed after fifteen years.
After the match, pundit Paolo Di Canio spoke of a genuine “Inter psychosis” when facing Milan, suggesting the psychological weight of this losing streak is now deeply embedded in the Nerazzurri camp.
Estupiñán writes history: first Ecuadorian to score in the Milan derby
The hero of the evening was Estupiñán, who scored a goal as beautiful as it was unexpected. The Ecuadorian full-back received a pass from Youssouf Fofana and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner, leaving Inter’s defence stunned. The South American became the first Ecuadorian in history to score in the Derby della Madonnina, a record that makes the goal even more memorable.
Estupiñán’s journey at Milan has been far from smooth. Signed as Theo Hernández’s replacement for around twenty million euros, the left-back endured a difficult start: early mistakes, an injury suffered while on duty with the Ecuador national team, and being overtaken in the pecking order by youngster Davide Bartesaghi. Yet Allegri never gave up on him, keeping him involved in the squad and showing faith at the right moments. In the previous match against Cremonese, the defender had already come on with great energy, playing a role in Strahinja Pavlović‘s goal.
After the game, Allegri revealed a touching detail: “Estupiñán truly deserved this moment of joy because he has suffered a great deal”, words that highlight the trust built between the manager and the player throughout the season.
The match: few chances, high intensity
The game did not produce a flurry of goalscoring opportunities, but the intensity was everything you would expect from a derby. Milan created a couple of decent chances through Fofana and Rafael Leão before the decisive goal arrived. Inter struggled to create genuine danger, thoroughly contained by Allegri’s tactical setup. In the closing stages, there was debate over a possible handball by Ricci inside the Milan penalty area, but the incident was deemed legal — no penalty, a decision that appeared correct.
Table implications and Champions League race: Milan in commanding position
This victory further strengthens Milan’s position in the standings with regard to Champions League qualification. The Rossoneri now sit 9 points clear of Roma, who are level on points with Como in fourth, and well clear of the last Europa League qualifying spot. Such a comfortable margin makes Champions League football next season all but guaranteed, barring a dramatic collapse.
As for the Scudetto race, Inter remain 7 points ahead with 10 matchdays still to play and 30 points up for grabs. It is a significant gap that would require a near-perfect run of results and some Inter slip-ups. The road is steep, but in football — as this very derby proves — nothing is impossible.
Milan rules the city
The most striking statistic remains Milan’s dominance of the city’s biggest fixture. The Rossoneri have controlled the derby for two years now, completely reversing the six consecutive Inter victories that were recorded during Stefano Pioli‘s time as Milan coach. The roles have been reversed, and whenever San Siro lights up for the derby, it increasingly speaks the language of the Devil. A source of immense pride for every Rossonero supporter.
