Serie A | Milan 1-1 Inter: Last gasp De Vrij avoids third straight derby defeat

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Stefan de Vrij of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Stefan de Vrij avoided a third consecutive Derby della Madonnina defeat with his last-gasp Inter equaliser on a Nicola Zalewski assist, as Tijjani Reijnders had thought he’d won it for Milan.

The Rossoneri had won both previous derbies this season, 2-1 in Serie A in September 2024 and the comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the Supercoppa Italiana Final on January 6, only Sergio Conceicao’s second game in charge. Alvaro Morata and Davide Calabria had already left for transfers, with Santiago Gimenez in the stands, plus Youssouf Fofana suspended, Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alessandro Florenzi injured, so Kyle Walker got his debut in a 4-4-2 shape. Hakan Calhanoglu returned for his first start in a month, leaving only Joaquin Correa on the treatment table, as new signing Nicola Zalewski was on the bench.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Federico Dimarco had the ball in the net after seven minutes, but Lautaro Martinez was offside before rolling across for the tap-in.

Benjamin Pavard just got his boot to the Tammy Abraham through ball and Rafael Leao was offside too on a dangerous Milan attack.

Another Inter goal was chalked off for offside, this time Nicolò Barella started the run too early before pulling back for Lautaro Martinez to sweep in from 12 yards.

Lautaro Martinez volleyed just over from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan pull-back, then got the first-time finish all wrong just inside the area on a Marcus Thuram lay-off.

Yann Sommer made the first real save of the game on 39 minutes, flying to palm a Tijjani Reijnders scorcher out of the near top corner.

It was Milan who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, as Abraham robbed Calhanoglu in midfield to spark the counter-attack, Theo Hernandez threaded through for the Rafael Leao angled drive, which Sommer palmed into the path of Reijnders from seven yards.

Mike Maignan used his legs to deny Lautaro Martinez straight after the restart, while a Christian Pulisic corner went past everyone to skim the far post.

AC Milan take the lead right on half-time against Inter @TNTSports & @discoveryplus pic.twitter.com/SO98fI4QMT

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 2, 2025

Inter had the ball in the net for the third time on 64 minutes with Lautaro Martinez, but the foul was given for a Dumfries nudge in the back of Theo Hernandez.

Yann Bisseck came off the bench and his header into the ground off a corner bounced onto the far upright with Maignan beaten.

Bisseck was crucial at the other end with a block on Abraham from the Reijnders lay-off, as was Theo Hernandez with a desperate sliding tackle on Thuram in full sprint.

Nicola Zalewski made his debut for Inter, less than 24 hours after the transfer from Roma, but they were unlucky when Thuram’s cushioned volley on a corner bounced off the inside of the post and back out on 82 minutes.

Francesco Camarda robbed Piotr Zielinski in midfield and shrugged off a Davide Frattesi challenge to fire just over the bar.

Incredibly, Inter hit the same upright for the third time in the second half as the towering Dumfries header bounced off the far post.

Their pressure continued and the siege paid off in stoppages, as Nicola Zalewski chested down a Bisseck cross at the back stick for Stefan de Vrij to turn in on the half-volley from five yards.

INTER SNATCH AN EQUALIZER AT THE DEATH! @TNTSports & @discoveryplus pic.twitter.com/o0WiiMCGVr

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 2, 2025

Milan 1-1 Inter

Reijnders 45 (M), De Vrij 93 (I)

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23

31

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4

46′

14

80

78′

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95

64′

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20

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57

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17

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33

96

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46′

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78′

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86′

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36

8

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99

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