Brilliant display: Inter Milan puts three up on Milan in Derby

For the first time in seven years, Inter Milan can claim a double over their cross-town rivals, AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina as the Nerazzurri earned a 3-2 victory at the Giusseppe Meazza Sunday.

The win pushed Inter back into third place in Serie A, two points ahead of Milan – six points clear of AS Roma, who sit in fourth.

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• Marcelo Brozovic of FC Internazionale shouts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale competes for the ball with Andrea Conti of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Fernandez Suso of AC Milan is challenged by Kwadwo Asamoah of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Mateo Musacchio of AC Milan celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Milan Skriniar (R) of FC Internazionale is challenged by Lucas Paqueta of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• The AC Milan fans show their support prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Lautaro Martinez (L) of FC Internazionale is challenged by Frank Kessie of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Matias Vecino of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• Matias Vecino of FC Internazionale scores the opening goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images
• The FC Internazionale Milano fans show their support prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 17, 2019 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

The Nerazzurri picked up goals from Matias Vecino, Stefan de Vrij and Lautaro Martinez in the win.

It was all Inter Milan in the first half as the Nerazzurri dominated the right side of the pitch between Matteo Politano, Vecino, Ivan Perisic and Martinez.

It was Vecino who drew first in the 3^rd minute after Perisic crossed across his body and found Martinez waiting in the left corner of goal. Martinez smartly headed the ball back in front of the net where Vecino continued his run in to finish with a ball past the out-of-position Gigio Donnarumma.

The goal put Inter up 1-0.

That goal set the tone for the first half as Inter continued to press.

Although Milan did have a strong attempt at goal when Lucas Paqueta drilled a screamer that Samir Handanovic pushed away.

On a counter-attack, Milan needed a strong defensive play from Davide Calabria when Danilo D’Ambrosio tried to find Martinez near the goal.

Late in the half, Vecino had an opportunity to double the lead when Perisic found him from 12 yards out, but Vecino’s attempt went over the goal.

Milan Skriniar also had a potential goal off a free kick near the 40^th minute, however his header sailed wide.

While Inter looked to dominate the first half, things started to reverse slightly after halftime. Milan started to look more aggressive in the attack.

However, in the 51^st minute, Inter finally got their lead doubled when Politano found Stefan de Vrij with a cross that de Vrij smartly placed in the bottom right of the goal, past Donnarumma, putting Inter up 2-0.

But, in typical Derby della Madonnina fashion, the drive wouldn’t last long.

Six minutes later, Milan would get their first goal after Tiemoue Bakayoko headed the ball home off a free kick from Hakan Galhanoglu.

Just when it seemed the match could be close early, in the 67^th minute, Politano was taken down in the area, referee Marco Guida awarded a penalty to Inter.

This time, it was Martinez who stepped up (instead of Brozovic) and connected on a rocket right past Donnarumma, extending the Nerazzurri’s lead to 3-1.

But, similar to the last time Inter extended its lead, Milan quickly answered.

This time, it was Mateo Musacchio who pulled the Rossoneri back to within one after Suso drilled an attempt from distance that was saved by Handanovic. But Musacchio was there to put in a rebound, cutting the lead back to one, 3-2.

Then, things got interesting as both teams sprung to life and the pressure seemed to increase.

A tense moment in the 88^th minute after Andrea Conti was shown a straight red card after a strong challenge to Martinez.

However, upon a check of the video-assisted referee, Guida changed his call to a yellow card, which incensed Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti. After a tense argument, Spalletti was shown a red card and escorted off the pitch.

With six minutes of extra time, Milan pushed forward in an attempt to equalize. Samu Castillejo nearly headed home an equalizer, but Handanovic was there with the save in the 91^st minute.

In the last minute of extra time, Patrick Crutone nearly tied the match, but his attempt was blocked away by D’Ambrosio who, with his arms behind his back, dropped his body in the path of Crutone’s shot, ending any threat Milan would mount.

Now, Inter will take some time off for the international break before returning to the San Siro to take on Lazio at 2:30 p.m. EDT March 31. Lazio will take on Udinese on Monday in the final match of week 28. Following that, Inter will get back on the road for a match at Genoa at 3 p.m. EDT April 3.

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