Inter Milan have etched their name into the annals of football history, securing their 20th Serie A title in the most dramatic fashion possible: by defeating their bitter city rivals, AC Milan, in a tense and fiery Derby della Madonnina.
The 2-1 victory at a hostile San Siro gave Inter an insurmountable 17-point lead at the top of the table, officially crowning them champions of Italy and, crucially, earning them the right to wear a coveted second star on their jerseys—a symbol of 20 league titles that their rivals have yet to achieve.
Inter Seize Control Early
From the outset, Inter played with the confidence of champions-elect. They took the lead just 18 minutes into the match when defender Francesco Acerbi found himself inexplicably unmarked from a corner and headed the ball home to give his side the crucial advantage.
Simone Inzaghi’s side doubled their lead shortly after halftime. In the 49th minute, Marcus Thuram collected the ball on the left flank, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful low drive from the edge of the box that beat AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan at his near post. The goal sent the designated Inter section of the stadium into delirium, as the Scudetto was now firmly within their grasp.
A Tense and Chaotic Finale
AC Milan, playing for pride and to delay their rivals’ party, refused to go down without a fight. They pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when defender Fikayo Tomori headed in a rebound after a save from Yann Sommer, setting up a nervy final ten minutes.
However, the match descended into chaos in stoppage time as tempers flared. The rivalry’s passion boiled over, leading to three red cards in the dying moments. A scuffle between Inter’s Denzel Dumfries and Milan’s Theo Hernández saw both players sent off. Just minutes later, Milan captain Davide Calabria was also shown a red card for striking an opponent.
When the final whistle blew, it sparked scenes of pure jubilation from the Inter players and staff. They had not only won the derby but had done so to clinch the league title on their rivals’ home turf—a historic and unforgettable achievement that will be celebrated for years to come.
