AC Milan produced a stunning first-half display to defeat Inter 3-1 in Saturday's Derby della Madonnina, with Diego Moreira scoring a spectacular free-kick and providing two assists. The victory ended Inter's unbeaten start to the Serie A season and breathed new life into Milan's title ambitions.
MILAN, October 31, 2026 — Serie A, Matchday 10It took AC Milan just ten minutes to turn one of Italian football's most anticipated fixtures into a nightmare for their city rivals.
By the time Inter had settled into the game, Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot had already found the net. The Nerazzurri eventually fought their way back through Alessandro Bastoni, but Diego Moreira had other plans.The Belgian winger, who had created Milan's opening two goals, capped an exceptional individual performance with a wonderful free-kick just before half-time. It was the moment that effectively put the contest beyond Inter's reach.
Milan's 3-1 victory at San Siro was their fourth consecutive derby win across all competitions, extending their unbeaten run against Inter to eight matches.For Rúben Amorim, it was a result that could hardly have arrived at a better time. His team had suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat against Bologna only three days earlier, raising fresh concerns about their consistency.
Inter arrived in considerably better shape. Cristian Chivu's side had collected 25 points from their opening nine Serie A matches without defeat and were among the early favourites to challenge for another Scudetto.
That form counted for little once the derby began.
In front of 77,691 spectators, Milan rediscovered their attacking sharpness, defended with determination and produced the sort of performance their supporters had been demanding.
There was barely time for the usual derby nerves to settle before Milan struck.In the fourth minute, Moreira found space on the right flank, worked his way towards the byline and delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area.
Pulisic spotted the opportunity before the Inter defenders could react. The American timed his movement beautifully and headed the ball past Josep Martínez from close range.
The goal sent San Siro into celebration, but Milan were only getting started.Six minutes later, Moreira was involved again.
This time, the Belgian delivered a short corner towards Rabiot, who met the ball with a clever left-footed effort. What initially looked like a cross floated towards the far post, struck the woodwork and ended up in the net.
It was 2-0 after ten minutes.Milan's aggressive start had exposed Inter's defensive organisation, particularly in wide areas. Carlos Augusto struggled to contain Moreira, while the visitors appeared unable to deal with the speed of Milan's movement.
The Rossoneri were winning second balls, pressing with greater urgency and making intelligent runs behind Inter's defensive line.
Chivu's players suddenly found themselves facing a difficult challenge: they needed to recover from two early blows without allowing Milan to exploit the spaces left behind.
To their credit, Inter did not disappear from the contest.
After the opening quarter-hour, Inter gradually found their rhythm.
Nicolò Barella began to see more of the ball in midfield, Hakan Çalhanoğlu looked to dictate possession, and the Nerazzurri started pushing Milan towards their own penalty area.
The response came in the 22nd minute.Çalhanoğlu delivered a corner, Manuel Akanji helped the ball across the six-yard box, and Alessandro Bastoni arrived to head home.
Suddenly, the derby looked very different.Inter were back within one goal and, for the first time, Milan appeared uncomfortable.
Çalhanoğlu tested Mike Maignan with a shot from distance, while Andy Diouf also forced the French goalkeeper into action.
Then came the save that may have changed the outcome.
In the 33rd minute, Djed Spence found himself in a dangerous position close to goal. His effort seemed destined to bring Inter level, but Maignan reacted brilliantly, stretching to produce an extraordinary reflex save.
It was one of those moments that can be forgotten when looking only at the final score.Had Spence scored, Inter would have completed their comeback before half-time, with momentum firmly on their side.
Instead, Milan survived.
Maignan's intervention gave his teammates a chance to regroup, and ten minutes later they delivered another devastating blow.
With the first half approaching its conclusion, Milan won a free-kick around 25 yards from goal.Moreira stood over the ball.
The winger had already troubled Inter throughout the opening 45 minutes, creating both goals and repeatedly finding space in dangerous positions.
Now he had the chance to do something himself.
His left-footed strike was outstanding.
The ball rose over the defensive wall, curled towards the far corner and left Martínez with little chance of reaching it.
San Siro erupted once again.Moreira raced away to celebrate, having completed a remarkable first-half performance with a goal and two assists.The timing made the strike particularly painful for Inter.
After spending much of the previous 20 minutes trying to repair the damage caused by Milan's explosive start, Chivu's team were suddenly back where they had been after ten minutes: trailing by two goals.
The score was 3-1 at half-time.And although Inter would go on to dominate several statistical categories, Milan had already done enough to take control of the result.
The second half was less spectacular than the first, but it offered an interesting tactical contest.
Inter controlled possession for long periods and attempted to stretch Milan's defensive structure through their wide players.
Amorim's team, however, looked increasingly comfortable defending their advantage.
Milan kept their lines close together, limited the space between midfield and defence, and forced Inter into delivering crosses from less threatening positions.
Carlos Augusto missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 55th minute after being found in space by Çalhanoğlu.
Maignan was called into action again in the 70th minute, denying Marcus Thuram as Inter searched for a way back.
There was another nervous moment for Milan when referee Marco Guida initially awarded Inter a penalty following a cross from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The referee believed the ball had struck Mario Gila's arm, but a VAR review showed that it had hit the defender's chest. The penalty decision was overturned.
Chivu made several substitutions to give his team fresh attacking options, introducing Piotr Zieliński, Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco, Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny.Inter continued to push forward, but their attacks were often predictable.
Milan, meanwhile, were prepared to suffer without the ball. Strahinja Pavlović and Koni De Winter dealt with much of the aerial pressure, while Gila and the rest of the defensive unit worked tirelessly to protect the central areas.
The Rossoneri even threatened a fourth goal late in stoppage time, when young Alphadjo Cisse forced Martínez into a fine save.
By then, the derby was effectively over.
Milan had earned their victory through a mixture of attacking quality, defensive organisation and outstanding goalkeeping.
The most interesting aspect of Saturday's derby is that the final score does not tell the entire story.
Inter finished with more possession, more shots, more corners and a higher expected-goals total.
According to Sofascore, the visitors registered 18 attempts compared with Milan's seven and enjoyed 57% possession.
The detailed numbers are revealing.
| Match statistics | AC Milan | Inter |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 3 | 1 |
| Possession | 43% | 57% |
| Total shots | 7 | 18 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.66 | 1.73 |
| Expected goals on target (xGOT) | 2.19 | 2.02 |
| Corners | 3 | 11 |
| Big chances | 2 | 4 |
| Touches in opposition box | 12 | 28 |
| Accurate crosses | 6/11 | 7/30 |
| Defensive clearances | 34 | 14 |
Source: Sofascore, October 31, 2026.
Inter generated almost three times Milan's expected goals and recorded considerably more touches inside the opposition penalty area.
Yet they scored just once.Milan, on the other hand, turned only seven shots into three goals.
That is an extraordinary level of efficiency, even allowing for the fact that some of Milan's goals came from situations with relatively low expected-goals values.
The xGOT numbers provide further context. Milan generated 2.19 expected goals on target, slightly more than Inter's 2.02, despite taking far fewer shots.
This suggests that Milan's finishing and the placement of their shots were particularly effective.
But there is another side to the analysis.
Inter created four big chances and failed to convert three of them. They also completed only seven of their 30 attempted crosses.
Milan completed six of 11.
The difference between those crossing figures is significant, particularly in a match where wide areas played such an important tactical role.
Inter produced more attacking activity. Milan produced more meaningful finishing.
And when Inter did manage to threaten the goal, Maignan was frequently there to stop them.
There was little debate about the outstanding player on the pitch.Diego Moreira was simply exceptional.
The 22-year-old Belgian returned to Milan's starting lineup after missing the Bologna defeat through injury and immediately reminded everyone what he brings to Amorim's attacking system.
His first assist demonstrated intelligent movement and excellent delivery. His second showed awareness during a set-piece situation. His free-kick required technique, composure and confidence.
It was the kind of individual display that can change how supporters view a player.
Sofascore awarded Moreira an 8.7 rating, the highest of anyone involved in the derby.
His statistics included one goal, two assists, 46 touches, two key passes and four accurate crosses from five attempts.
He also completed 22 of his 26 passes and registered 13 ball carries covering more than 140 metres.
Those figures tell only part of the story.
Moreira's greatest contribution was the uncertainty he created in Inter's defensive line. Carlos Augusto frequently found himself having to make difficult decisions about whether to close him down or protect the space behind.
The Belgian exploited that hesitation repeatedly.
Wearing the No. 22 shirt once made famous at Milan by Kaká, Moreira delivered a performance that will quickly become part of recent derby folklore.
There is still a long season ahead, and one outstanding evening should not lead to exaggerated conclusions about his future.
But Milan have every reason to believe they possess a player capable of making the difference in their biggest matches.
Moreira may have been the headline act, but Milan would have struggled to win this derby without Maignan.
The French international made seven saves and finished the match with 1.02 goals prevented, according to Sofascore.
That latter statistic measures the difference between the goals a goalkeeper was expected to concede from shots on target and the number actually conceded.
Maignan's positive figure reflects the quality of his performance.
His save from Spence was the defining moment, but it was far from his only important intervention.
He looked confident when claiming crosses, reacted quickly to efforts from distance and provided a reassuring presence as Inter increased the pressure.
For a Milan side that has occasionally struggled with defensive consistency, having an experienced goalkeeper performing at this level is an enormous advantage.
Rúben Amorim had every reason to enjoy his first Derby della Madonnina victory.
The Portuguese manager had been under pressure after Milan's midweek setback against Bologna, and a defeat against Inter would have increased the scrutiny surrounding his project.
Instead, his players produced one of their most convincing performances of the campaign.
Speaking after the game, Amorim praised the concentration and commitment displayed by his squad.
In his official Milan interview, he said:"I was composed from the start to the end, because the team was ready to win."
During his appearance on Sky Sport Italia, Amorim also expressed pride in the players' response despite having only a short recovery period between matches.
He explained that Milan's improved defensive structure had been one of the keys to victory.
The team maintained shorter distances between its lines, defended with greater aggression in wide areas and avoided leaving the spaces that Inter usually exploit.
Amorim was particularly pleased with the defensive contributions of Pavlović and De Winter, as well as the performances of Milan's attacking players.
However, the manager refused to be carried away by suggestions that his side should now be considered Scudetto favourites.
He acknowledged that the club has ambitious objectives but argued that building a title-winning team requires consistent improvement over time.
The message was sensible.
Milan have demonstrated that they can defeat strong opponents. Their next challenge is proving that they can produce the same level of performance against less glamorous opposition.
A derby victory brings enormous confidence, but championships are won through consistency.
Cristian Chivu offered a more frustrated assessment.
The Inter manager recognised that his players had made too many mistakes at the beginning of the match and had left themselves with an almost impossible task.
Speaking to Inter's official media channels, Chivu admitted:"We got our approach wrong, but there were positives too."
He pointed to the period following Bastoni's goal, when Inter created opportunities and appeared close to finding an equaliser.
Maignan's save from Spence was particularly important in his analysis.
Chivu also revealed that illness had complicated his preparations, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny struggling physically before the derby.
Those problems forced Inter to adjust their attacking setup.
Nevertheless, the Romanian coach did not attempt to disguise his disappointment.
He questioned his team's concentration and suggested that some players needed to rediscover the hunger and determination that had helped Inter achieve success in the previous campaign.
His criticism was revealing because it went beyond Saturday's result.Inter have enough quality to dominate possession and create opportunities against most Serie A opponents. But Chivu appears concerned that his players sometimes lack the intensity required to impose themselves from the opening minutes.
He also praised Milan's performance and acknowledged that the Rossoneri deserved credit.
Inter now face a demanding response, with another important European fixture awaiting them in Rotterdam.
Milan's victory takes them to 21 points after ten Serie A matches, four behind Inter.
The Nerazzurri remain on 25 points, level with Lazio before the conclusion of the weekend's fixtures.
The result does not transform Milan into automatic title favourites, but it changes the mood around Amorim's team considerably.
Three days earlier, supporters were questioning Milan's defensive weaknesses and their inability to maintain a consistent level of performance.
Now, the Rossoneri have defeated one of their strongest domestic rivals and demonstrated that they can adapt tactically when protecting a lead.
For Inter, the defeat is a setback rather than a crisis.
Their overall start to the season remains impressive, and their league position gives them a strong foundation for the months ahead.
But Chivu will want answers to some uncomfortable questions.
Why did his team allow Milan to create so much danger in the opening minutes? Why were their attacking movements so predictable for long periods? And how can Inter avoid becoming vulnerable when opponents attack aggressively from the start?Those issues will matter more than the emotional disappointment of losing a derby.
As for Milan, the immediate challenge is straightforward: maintain the same standards.
Their next Serie A fixture takes them to Genoa on November 8, while Inter host Como on the same day.
Before then, both clubs have European commitments.
The final whistle brought familiar scenes at San Siro.
Milan supporters celebrated, players embraced and the Rossoneri had another derby victory to enjoy.
Moreira deservedly received much of the attention, while Maignan's crucial saves and the contributions of Pulisic and Rabiot ensured that this was more than a one-man performance.
The most encouraging aspect for Amorim was perhaps the way his players handled the second half.
After conceding against Inter and facing sustained pressure, Milan could easily have lost their composure.
They did not. Instead, they defended their advantage, managed difficult situations and showed an understanding of what was required to win.
It was not a flawless performance. Inter created enough chances to make that clear.
But Milan were clinical when opportunities came their way and resilient when the match demanded it. In the end, that was the difference.
AC Milan 3-1 Inter. Three goals, three points and another memorable night in the red-and-black half of the city.
For Diego Moreira, it was a derby to remember.
For Inter, it was a painful reminder that football matches are not decided by possession statistics.
And for the Serie A title race, it was another indication that this season could still have several unexpected turns.
AC Milan 3-1 Inter MilanCompetition: Serie A 2026/27, Matchday 10
Date: October 31, 2026
Venue: San Siro, Milan
Attendance: 77,691
Referee: Marco GuidaGoals: Pulisic 4', Rabiot 10', Bastoni 22', Moreira 43'.Player of the Match: Diego Moreira (8.7 Sofascore rating)