AC Milan 1, Inter 1: Act I

The curtains have closed on the first act of the Coppa Italia Semifinal's Derby della Madonnina, and we have a two week intermission until the second act. The first act saw Milan and Inter draw 1-1, with all the drama left for the second match. While Milan fielded most of their starters, there were a lot of understudies for Inter, who have some big players injured. So the suspense is tangible, almost as if this match had not even been played. For Milan, everything is on the line, while Inter are looking to win their first trophy of the year after Milan stole their thunder (and their silverware) in January. So enjoy the intermission, because the drama is going to get very real next time. This was just Act I.

Only the first Act, with everything to play for in Act II.

The match started in the typical way that our Derbies have gone in the past few years. Inter got most of the chances, and did not get called for fouls. Actually, the refereeing for the whole match was that way, with the most controversial incident being the behavior of Simone Inzaghi, who was so far out of his technical area at one point, his feet were actually over the line and on the pitch. He impeded an overlapping run from Theo Hernández, who had to navigate around him (we all know what would have happened if Theo had made contact with him, and Theo wisely avoided that red card.)

Caught in the act – photos show The Other Inzaghi™ on the pitch, with Theo on a collision course.

The Other Inzaghi™scurried back to his technical area after the incident, clearly realizing what had happened. But he was not cautioned or even warned. Even the most timid journalists questioned why he should be treated differently than other managers, because Inter's drama queen manager spends so much time well outside of his technical area screaming and gesticulating in ways that other managers are, in fact, cautioned for. Ironically, he is serving a one match suspension this weekend, having been twice cautioned and sent off last weekend for insulting the referees. However, it is only when it gets to this point that he is punished. It was shocking that he should be actually on the pitch and impeding a player.

Inter not being punished is sadly not shocking. So, when The Turkish Traitor™ fouled Pulisic in the 14th minute and there was no caution, it did not raise any eyebrows, sadly. Obviously, five minutes later, Theo was shown a yellow card when Bisseck actually clearly dove, because that is how refereeing works with Inter. Theo was given a second yellow and sent off in our decisive Champions League Playoff match vs. Feyenoord for diving himself, so the irony of this card was not lost on me. If you think Inter have won anything on their own in decades, you probably also believe that the Curva Sud are just really passionate football fans.

Theo is always carded, no matter who dives.

Speaking of the Curva Sud, Wednesday was a strange day for me. Earlier in the day, I read about the trial currently happening in Milano involving Ultras from both Inter and Milan. Wednesday, the focus was on Francesco Lucci, the brother of Luca Lucci, who is the leader of the Curva Sud, and some other "passionate fans" associated with him. The trial featured video evidence of horrific beatings of a steward and a couple of other people by Curva Sud members, including one in a restaurant where they subsequently demanded the security camera footage of the incident. There was also evidence presented regarding the November 2023 stabbing of a PSG fan by Milan Ultras, as well as unsettling comments made after a number of Croatian fans were beaten from Dinamo Zagreb. So, if you are wondering where the coreografia, flags, and banners have been all season, it is related to this trial.

It was with these disturbing reports that I went into this match, with low expectations for the rest of the Curva Sud, hopefully mostly less criminal and less violent, but still having behaved like a bunch of Karens this season. However, they were the biggest surprise of the night, actually singing to support the team for the entire match for the first time I can remember in ages. And they were in full voice for much of the match, while I do not remember hearing a single chant against management. I suppose it could have been in response to all the evidence being presented in court this week, trying to help their image, but I like to believe that they actually wanted to support the team in the Derby.

Maignan gave fans plenty to cheer about.

Back to the Derby, Maignan had already made an early save on Correa, but it was Tammy Abraham who helped him out, with the goal line clearance header on de Vrij's header in the 22nd minute. Then he raced down to the other end and made a shot that Josep Martínez easily grabbed, but that man was everywhere. Martínez also saved Leão's shot a few minutes later. The whiny Inter players wanted a handball called on Leão a few minutes after that, but a VAR review made it clear that they were just crying once again. Reijnders also made an attempt, but Martínez easily managed that as well.

As halftime drew near, though, things got real. The Turkish Traitor™ took a powerful free kick that was headed just under the crossbar, but Maignan heroically pushed it over. He was forced into another big save on Frattesi just before the end of the half as well. He wound up being voted Milan's MVP, as he made a massive seven saves on the night, many of them breathtaking. 

Milan's Mr. Coppa Italia.

Milan started the second half out in the best possible way, with Fofana sending a great pass into Tammy Abraham, who turned, shot, and scored. 1-0 Milan. After scoring the winning goal in our Supercoppa Derby, Tammy also scored two goals against his parent club, Roma, in the Quarterfinals to get Milan to the Semifinals. He is Mr. Coppa Italia this year.

Baby Barella™ came back and tried to equalize almost immediately afterward, but Maignan once again said, "Not today," and made another amazing save. A few minutes later, Carlos Augusto was holding Álex Jiménez as he was trying get control of the ball, who was not happy about that, and shoved him away. Acerbi the Racist™, who was still on the bench, came over to the sideline and said something to the young Jiménez, who was not happy at all. But Fabbri intervened, and surprisingly, actually appropriately carded the bench player, Acerbi the Racist™.

The young Álex Jiménez is easily provoked, and Acerbi the Racist™ should not have opened his big mouth.

Fabbri must have temporarily forgotten who he was working for, because five minutes later, he also carded Bisseck for a foul on Rafa Leão. The Inter-ified Bisseck seemed shocked, having already gotten his opponent carded for his dive earlier. But seriously. He reached back, shoved his arm into Leão's chest, and to make sure he stayed at arm's length, he grabbed onto his jersey, then flung himself to the ground. I think we have a new nominee for Worst Actor in a Supporting Role.

Milan's next attempts were not the greatest, as Reijnders' shot was deflected wide, and Leão attempted an overhead bicycle kick that he sent into the stands. Perhaps it was these weak attempts that opened up the scoring opportunity for the slimy Nerazzurri. After doing this thing called "maintaining possession" on the outside perimeter of Milan's goal, the Inter players just kept passing it around until it reached The Turkish Traitor™ at the top of the box, who saw the tiniest of windows and slammed it home, just under Maignan, who almost got to it. 1-1 all.

Conceição steps forward to speak to Jiménez.

Conceição reacted by replacing the fiery young Álex Jiménez with Sottil. Things remained dicey, and in the 76th minute, he also replaced Pulisic and Tammy Abraham with Santi Gimenez and João Félix. After another Maignan save on Thuram, The Racist Acerbi™was subbed on, having already been cautioned. The self-proclaimed lifelong Milanista and former Milan player has truly become an Inter snake. Shortly thereafter, Maignan had a point blank save on Zalewski. Seriously, Mike was on fire in this one.

In the 80th minute, Inter got away with another crime, as The Turkish Traitor™ lunged into Santi Gimenez from behind. Fabbri, not even in a good position, immediately waved it off, but replays show it should have not only been a foul but a definite yellow card. After yet another Maignan save on Mkhitaryan, in the 86th minute, Leão sent a beautiful curling shot in that went just the outside of the far post.

A Leão peek-a-boo surprise.

After that chance, Conceição made his final changes, pulling off Leão and Fofana for Chukwueze and Bondo. Reijnders was shown a yellow card for a foul on Bastoni. In the 90th minute, The Turkish Traitor™ took a free kick that went over. Stoppage time played out fairly unremarkably, and at the final whistle, it was Milan 1, Inter 1. 

Milan would have undoubtedly liked to have taken better advantage of Inter's injuries in this match, I'm sure, because if those players return for the second leg, we could be in trouble. But for all the Derby drama, this was only the first part of the show. Following a two week intermission, we will see how this ends. But for now, this is how the curtains closed on Act I.

This post inspired by the music of Depeche Mode's "World Full of Nothing"

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