Unveiling the Historic Rivalry, Unknown Tales, and Unforgettable Moments of One of Football's Greatest Derbies - the Milan Derby.
One of the most intense football rivalries in the world, the Milan Derby, is played out in Milan, a city known for its fashion, art, and culture. Two renowned football teams from the city, AC Milan and Inter Milan, have been fierce rivals since the early 1900s.
One of the most eagerly anticipated games in Italian football, the Milan Derby, or Derby della Madonnina, draws viewers from around the world to watch the titanic struggle between the two Milan clubs.
When both teams were dominant forces in Italian and European football in the 1960s and 1970s, the rivalry between the two clubs peaked. While Inter Milan had players like Sandro Mazzola and Giacinto Facchetti, AC Milan was captained by the legendary Gianni Rivera.
In the 1963 European Cup final, the two teams squared off, with AC Milan emerging victorious. The Milan Derby developed into one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in football as both teams continued to dominate Italian football in the years that followed.
The 2005 Champions League quarterfinal between the two teams stands out as one of the most memorable moments in recent Milan Derby history. Inter Milan battled back in the second leg and won 3-0 to advance to the semifinals on away goals after AC Milan won the first leg 2-0. Controversy surrounded the game after AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti claimed that Inter Milan had used illegal substances to improve their play.
A second unforgettable moment occurred during the 2012 Milan Derby, when Diego Milito scored twice as Inter Milan overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2. Inter Milan’s participation in the Champions League for the upcoming season was made possible by the victory.