The history of the #DerbyMilano, 5 tales from the past

MILAN - The anticipation, the focus, the players’ walk out onto the pitch, the moment of kick-off itself... the #DerbyMilano. The evening of Sunday 9 February will see the 172nd encounter between Inter and AC Milan, a fixture that has imprinted moments, photographs and sublime skills into the history books of world football.

MR. RELIABLE

Six Derbies and six goals. Diego Milito’s holds a perfect record in his history with the Derby. To be as reliable as Diego you need to feel the gravity of the game, throwing yourself into it headfirst. His story began even before the start of his first official season at Inter, in the summer of 2009 with a brace against AC Milan during pre-season in Boston. His first league Derby came in August, with Diego stepping up to dispatch his penalty without batting an eyelid, as he then won his duel with Abate in the return fixture that season, firing an effort across goal to help secure a 2-0 win. He failed to score against the Rossoneri the following season, but then got back to his best in the one after that. He scored almost an exact replica of his previous goal in the first fixture, and then a historic hat-trick in the second clash of the season (the first Inter player to do so since Nyers). Six goals and maximum reliability.

A BACKHEELED GIFT

The back of Rodrigo’s heel. Five words to describe that memorable goal from the first Derby of the 2013/14 season. With just three days left until Christmas and two minutes left in the match, the cross came in from the right and Palacio found his finish in the only way possible, with a backheel. A goal that formed the perfect balance between sublime skill and contextual importance, securing a huge three points for Inter Milan.

FIRST GOALS DON’T COME BIGGER

It only takes one goal to enter into #DerbyMilano folklore. Many people dream to do it, few people expect to, and even fewer have succeeded in doing it. One of those who has is Giuseppe Minaudo. It was 6 April 1986, Mario Corso was in the technical area and sent Minaudo to warm up, and after being subbed on he put the ball in the back of the net for his first Serie A goal, deciding the Derby in doing so.

A FIRST APPEARANCE

Announce yourself in style, on one of football’s biggest stages. That’s exactly what Wesley Sneijder managed after arriving in Milan and immediately starting in the game to beat all games. A debut full of energy, dribbling and penetrating passes that made him a key part of the Nerazzurri’s four-goal win in August 2009.

YOU HEAR DERBY AND THINK ABOUT…

You hear #DerbyMilano and you think about goals, passion and matches experienced deep down. Nicola Berti holds an esteemed place among the most seasoned of #DerbyMilano players. From the butterflies the night before the game, to waiting for the bus outside the Training Centre, to the 90 minutes of running, promises kept, goals and jubilation. Another Derby specialist was “Il Drago”, Dejan Stankovic, who, with his power and strong sense of belonging, always left his mark on the #DerbyMilano with incredible goals like the one that sealed the win in 2009.