The Epic Showdown: The Untold Story of Milan Derby - AC Milan vs Inter Milan

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.

The Early Days of the Derby

The Milan Derby began in the early 1900s, when Milan Cricket and Football Club was AC Milan’s previous name. On December 18, 1908, the first Milan Derby was played, and Milan prevailed 2-1. Since then, the two teams have faced off over 220 times across all competitions, with AC Milan holding a slight advantage because of their superior number of victories.

The Rivalry between the Clubs

Football is only one aspect of the rivalry between the two Milanese clubs. It is a conflict between cultures, histories, and traditions. While Inter Milan is regarded as an elite club, AC Milan symbolises the working-class history of the city. The fan bases of the two teams are different, with Inter Milan’s having a more devoted following than AC Milan’s.

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 Modern Era

With both teams vying for supremacy in Serie A and Europe, the rivalry between AC Milan and Inter Milan has only grown in recent years. With AC Milan winning seven and Inter Milan winning three of the 36 Serie A titles and 10 European Cups won by the two clubs, respectively.

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.