Milan and Inter share honours in Serie A derby thriller

Rossoneri maintain seven point gap over defending champions

Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw against AC Milan. AP

Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates with teammates after scoring on a penalty kick his side's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo / Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori celebrates after an own goal by Inter Milan's Stefan de Vrij. AP

Stefan de Vrij (3-R) of Inter scores an own goal. EPA

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli talks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the match. Reuters

AC Milan's Ante Rebic, right, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. AP

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts. Reuters

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action with Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar. Reuters

Inter Milan's Italian coach Simone Inzaghi during the match. AP

AC Milan continued their unbeaten start to Serie A with a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in an enthralling derby on Sunday, maintaining the Rossoneri's seven-point lead over the reigning Italian champions.

Hakan Calhanoglu, who crossed the divide by joining Inter on a free transfer from Milan in the summer, quickly made his mark against his former club by winning and scoring a penalty 11 minutes in.

But Stefan de Vrij headed into his own net to draw the Rossoneri level six minutes later, before Milan keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu superbly saved a Lautaro Martinez penalty in a frantic first half.

Milan substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was inches away from a stunning 90th-minute winner when his powerful strike cannoned off the foot of the post, as Stefano Pioli's side dropped points for just the second time this season in the league.

"The glass is half full, it was a complicated match. In the end the performance was positive against a strong team, but we showed that we are also strong," Pioli said.

"We were brave, especially in the defensive phase. We attacked with a lot of players in the first half and showed great desire to bring home a big result. Only us and Napoli are still unbeaten in the top European leagues."

Milan remain second with 32 points, behind leaders Napoli on goal difference, while champions Inter are third with 25 points.

It is the first time the Rossoneri have registered as many as 32 points after 12 games of a Serie A season.

The stakes were high for both teams, with Milan having the chance to go 10 points clear of one of their major title rivals and Inter desperately needing a result to retain hopes of a successful scudetto defence.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi therefore saw the result in a different light to his Milan counterpart.

"For us the glass is half empty because with the chances we created and the penalty we missed, we deserved more," Inzaghi said.

"But we were up against a great team that is deservedly on top of the table. We are lagging behind, but there is still time and games like this make us more self-aware."

The game started with a bang when Calhanoglu was tripped by Franck Kessie to win a penalty, which he converted before celebrating in front of supporters of Milan, the club he represented for four years.

Inter’s lead lasted only six minutes before De Vrij headed a dangerous cross into his own net, but the Nerazzurri had a golden chance to regain the advantage when Fode Ballo-Toure brought down Matteo Darmian to concede a second spot kick.

This time Martinez stepped up, but the Argentina international’s effort was saved by Tatarusanu, who sprung to his right to get a hand to the shot.

Inter cranked up the pressure as Nicolo Barella had a shot cleared off the line and Martinez shot wide from a promising position, and after the break nobody could get a touch on Calhanoglu’s dangerous drilled volley across the six-yard box.

Milan finished the stronger as a Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kick required a smart save from Samir Handanovic, but Saelemaekers came closest when his shot thumped the post and Kessie sent the rebound wide.