Oh so close: Inter Milan draws 0-0 with AC Milan in Derby

Numerous chances, but nothing coming to fruition.

That was the state of the game as Inter Milan drew 0-0 with AC Milan in the second Derby della Madonnina at the San Siro Wednesday.

The game was rescheduled from its original March 4 date following the death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astore.

The draw keeps Inter Milan in fourth, just a point back of Roma and two up on Lazio. Milan, on the other hand, are six points back of Lazio in sixth and just four points up on Sampdoria.

The Nerazzurri maintained offensive pressure throughout the game, keeping Milan playing defense for most of the match.

Inter striker Mauro Icardi had several chances at goal, and actually connected in the first half but he was ruled offside. Inter and Milan traded blows for most of the first half with both teams going into the locker room fortunate to be tied.

Inter stepped up their offensive game in the second half, coming right out of the gate to put pressure on AC Milan’s defense.

In the 48^th minute, Ivan Perisic nearly caught Gianluigi Donnarumma flat-footed with an apparent chip to the middle that curved and drifted over Donnarumma’s head and just off the crossbar.

Milan responded two minutes later when Franck Kessie pushed ahead and fired a rocket from the edge of the penalty area. His shot curled at the last minute and sailed just wide of goal.

In the 52^nd minute, Suso moved out to the right and placed a pass right to the feet of a streaking Patrick Crutone, but Samir Handanovic promptly fell on the attempt for a save.

From there, the Nerazzurri went back on the attack when, in the 56^th minute Rafinha moves to the edge of the area and finds Antonio Candreva. Candreva passes across the face of goal where Icardi is waiting, but the Argentian’s attempt goes wide of an open goal.

Icardi had another strong attempt after Perisic nearly found him in the middle, but Donnarumma puts a finger on the cross to disrupt the play.

Crutone appeared to put Milan on the board in the 67^th minute when he took a nice ball from Kessie for an apparent goal, but Crutone was whistled offside to nullify the attack.

Inter kept up the pressure after Luciano Spalletti brought in Borja Valero for Rafinha and Eder for Candreva.

It was Joao Cancelo who took a strong shot at goal in the 81^st minute after Inter struggled to find space in the box following a throw-in. Cancelo’s attempt, however, was too strong and sailed way out of play.

In stoppage time, Joao Cancelo made a nice move down the right and found Icardi right in front of an open net, but Icardi’s delivery was soft and went left of the goal for another missed opportunity.

The first half was back and forth as both teams attempted to gain ground on the other.

Marcelo Brozovic and Antonio Candreva provided some fireworks with early attempts on Donnarumma.

In the 22^nd minute, Leonardo Bonnuci attempted to head home a free kick, but Samir Handanovic stretched out and deflected the attempt out of bounds.

Finally, in the 38^th minute, it appeared Inter Milan would grab the lead as Candreva placed a well-timed pass through the legs of Bonucci right to Icardi who poked the ball past Donnarumma, but the video-assisted referee ruled Icardi was only slightly offsides.

You be the judge:

Inter Milan hits the road this weekend with a Sunday match-up at Torino.

What do you think? Post your comments below!