Olivier Giroud scored a quickfire late double to earn Milan a dramatic 2-1 win over Inter at San Siro that moves his side within a point of the Serie A leaders.
What does it mean? Scudetto race wide open
This clash between Serie A’s two highest-scoring sides looked like Perisic’s strike would settle it.
Olivier Giroud took over with a potentially season-changing brace in the second half.
Milan’s second win over Inter in their last 12 Serie A meetings moves them within a point of the top spot, Rather than leaving them seven adrift as with 15 minutes to go, as was the case.
Inter still has a game in hand on the Rossoneri, but that gap will be too close for comfort from Inzaghi’s perspective, with Napoli also just four points behind.
Giroud the Great
Milan tested Handanovic only once without injuring striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Giroud stepped up and became the first Frenchman to score two Serie A goals against Inter.
He helped Milan recover from behind to beat Inter in the Italian top flight for the first time since February 2004.
Maignan frustrates Inter
Inter dominated the first half but only had Perisic’s 50th goal for the club in all competitions to show for it on his 234th appearance.
Credit must go to Maignan for that. He four saves before the interval to keep out inter attackers out.
Key Opta Facts:
– Milan have won their first derby despite being in a trailing situation in Serie A for their first time since February 2004.
-Inter has failed to win three of their last four derbies (D1 L2) after winning each of the previous four.
– Giroud has scored seven Serie A goals at San Siro, although his fixture was an away game.
– Ivan Perisic has now scored 50 goals with Inter considering all competitions,
Only Lautaro Martínez (61) has more among the current Nerazzurri players.
What’s next?
Inter host former boss Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Tuesday,
Meanwhile, Milan is at home to Lazio in the same competition the following day.
Likewise, for more football news like this, click here.
