Milano is Black&Blue! The facts and figures following Inter's Derby success

MILAN – At the end of the first half, perhaps even the most optimistic Inter fan couldn’t have envisaged such a sweet and exhilarating outcome. 4-2 was the final score after the opening period  had ended with a late double blow. From 0-2 down, we got back up, started to run stronger than ever before and got back into the 172nd Serie A Derby to take place in Serie A. And now, the statistics need updating. Inter’s new record against Milan in the league reads as follows: 66 wins, 55 draws, 51 defeats.

In collaboration with Opta, here are all the facts and figures you need to know following Inter vs. Milan, a game which we certainly won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

Let’s start with the comeback. Not since 1949 had Inter come from two behind in a Derby to win. Back then, Inter fell two behind after seven minutes and also trailed 4-1 later on. But thanks to a hat-trick from Amadei and goals from Nyers (two) and Lorenzi, the Nerazzurri eventually ran out 6-5 winners in a match that remains the highest-scoring Derby affair in history. The following day, the Gazzetta dello Sport led with the headline: “Realtà romanzesca a San Siro” (“A fairy tale at San Siro”). This time around, “EpicInter” is the title that has been used for the Nerazzurri’s 4-2 victory on Sunday evening. These two wins are the only two times that Inter have made a comeback from a two-goal deficit in a #DerbyMilano.

Talking of comebacks, the last time the Nerazzurri came from two behind to win a match in Serie A was in March 2013, when they beat Catania 3-2.

During yesterday’s 4-2 thriller, six different players got on the scoresheet. However, this isn’t a record in the Derby: in October 2006, Inter ran out 3-4 winners in what was another eventful affair. There were seven different goalscorers that day, with Crespo, Stankovic, Ibrahimovic and Materazzi netting for the Nerazzurri.

As regards Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in scoring to make it 0-2, the Swedish striker became the oldest player to net in the #DerbyMilano in Serie A since the start of the double round-robin format (38 years and 129 days). The last time Ibra had scored in the Derby was on 6 May 2012, a day when he bagged a brace. Curiously, that match also finished 4-2 to Inter thanks to a Milito hat-trick and a goal from Maicon.

The last seven goals that Inter have scored against Milan in Serie A have come in the second half. During the two fixtures between the Milan sides this season, the woodwork was hit on seven occasions. Only in the two games between Lazio and Roma has the goal frame been struck more frequently (eight) this season. During Inter’s 4-2 victory, Eriksen’s free kick cannoned off the bar, while Milan hit the post through Calhanoglu and Ibrahimovic.

As for the key players yesterday evening, we’ll start off by mentioning Stefan de Vrij, who put in a fine performance and made it 3-2 with an excellent header. The Dutchman also scored in the Derby last season with a similar goal at the same end. This was the last time he’d netted with his head in Serie A.

Marcelo Brozovic, who got Inter back into the game with a left-footed volley, previously hadn’t found the net in the Italian top flight since Inter’s fixture against Milan earlier on in the season. For the second time, the Croatian has scored in both matches against the same side in the same season after also doing this against Cagliari in 2017/18.

Matías Vecino, who scored the Nerazzurri’s equaliser, has been involved in three goals in his last four Derbies in Serie A (two goals, one assist).

Last night’s match was the sixth encounter this season where Inter haven’t allowed the opposition to have an effort on target in the second half. This is proof of the great reaction the team showed yesterday evening, leading to another #DerbyMilano win. Milano is Black&Blue!