Inter win the derby to become Champions of Italy!

A huge Nerazzurri flag flies on the San Siro pitch. It's big, it has two gold stars. In the centre, the tricolore. It is number 20. Our Inter players, that fantastic group, run towards the fans, inside a stadium that is emptying because the hosts have to leave space for the party. Nicolò Barella jumps up and down. Federico Dimarco climbs onto the goalposts with the captain, Lautaro Martinez. He dances, with a voice that powers above everything else. The derby has just finished and, in the Milano rain, the Nerazzurri shirts fill the pitch, illuminating it. Inter are Italian Champions; they are Italian Champions for the 20th time; they are champions in the city's stadium, in a derby away from home, yet another victory they dominated for long stretches. Acerbi and Thuram were on the scoresheet in the final act of this crazy ride. After 33 games, they have 86 points, 17 more than their immediate pursuer, AC Milan.

Simone Inzaghi laughs. He is a unique leader of a fantastic group, who has created repeat successes. He has cooked up the perfect recipe, a practically spotless team that has dominated far and wide, producing some crazy numbers. The Scudetto has arrived, as mentioned, at the end of a hard-fought derby, dominated for long spells and then soiled by a tension-filled finale with three red cards (Dumfries, Hernandez, Calabria): Sommer and his saves, Pavard unbeatable, Barella everywhere, and then Thuram, who was elusive, quick, lethal. The victory was never in question, with the exception of the somewhat random and panic-stricken final few minutes, which were nevertheless sweet for all the Inter fans, who party non-stop.

THE MATCH

A deafening roar, in the pouring rain, on a Monday in April dressed as a winter night. It was very cold, but it wasn't felt. The blood flowing in the veins of everyone present was boiling hot, helping to create a lively atmosphere. The weather matters not: the Milano derby warms everyone up. On the one hand, the Nerazzurri faithful cheered on Inzaghi's boys, encouraging them to take the last step towards the much-dreamed-of finish line; on the other hand, the desire to pause a party that wants to get started and never end. And then off we go, into a potentially historic derby.

Inter were immediately in their stride: beautiful, well-drilled, rampant, touches and forward runs, spaces gained. Thuram deep in behind, Bastoni picking him out. The whole repertoire, all the beautiful things that the Nerazzurri fans have become accustomed to. Milano waiting, ready to go again. In the 18th minute, the Nerazzurri people jumped for joy: Dimarco's corner was flicked on by Pavard, sending the ball towards Acerbi. His header was perfect, the heartfelt rush towards the fans crazy with delight: 1-0.

It was well-deserved, but unfortunately not added to. Inter kept on pushing forward, but Lautaro failed to double the lead from close range. AC Milan's outlet was entrusted to Leao, deployed as a centre-forward: Sommer was attentive and also had Pavard covering. Super Benji, like all the Nerazzurri lads, were electric. Thuram with his right foot struck the post with a low drive that looked like it was going in. Still 1-0, unfortunately.

The end of the half was wide open, end-to-end, from box to box. Sommer made a superb save from Calabria, before Maignan denied Mkhitaryan on the following break. Anything could happen, with Dimarco's counterattack not finished off just as time ran out. What a pulstaing opening half.

Who's marking Marcus Thuram? Unstoppable, he was energetic from the beginning to the end. In the fourth minute of the second half, he cut back onto his right and shot a low drive that surprised Maignan to make it 2-0. Delirium, under the curva of the Nerazzurri visiting fans. Inter went crazy, AC Milan lacked ideas. The atmosphere was at boiling point: the blanket of smoke from the smoke bombs descended onto the Meazza pitch; the game went scrappy: less quality and more battles. Sommer was the main man on the night, stopping Hernandez's shot and keeping the Rossoneri at a distance. Inter accelerates less, while AC Milan played all their offensive cards. How? In a hurried, even messy way, but sometimes with good results. Sommer was brilliant again to deny Gabbia, but could do bothing to stop Tomori bundling the ball home to reopen the match ten minutes from time.

Inter fought, there was nothing else to do. They dug deep, with the finish line in sight, strength and nerves of steel needed. Pavard was monstrous in making blocks, for example. The match exploded in the 90th minute, the high tension led to three red cards: Dumfries and Theo Hernandez first, sent off for a heated scuffle in midfield, and then Calabria for a blow to the face of Frattesi. Tension, battles, corners to defend. The heart of Inzaghi's team was infinite. Nobody was upset: the goal to be achieved eventually came, arriving after eight minutes of added time. Colombo blew the whistle, Inter are Italian champions.

AC MILAN 1-2 INTER

Goalscorers: 18' Acerbi (I), 49' Thuram (I), 80' Tomori (M)

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): 16 Maignan; 2 Calabria, 46 Gabbia, 23 Tomori, 19 Hernandez; 14 Reijnders (9 Giroud 53'), 7 Adli (4 Bennacer 68'); 80 Musah (17 Okafor 77'), 8 Loftus-Cheek (21 Chukwueze 68'), 11 Pulisic; 10 Leao. Substitutes: 57 Sportiello, 69 Nava, 15 Jovic, 30 Caldara, 38 Terracciano, 42 Florenzi. Head Coach: Stefano Pioli.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 28 Pavard, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni (6 De Vrij 88'); 36 Darmian (2 Dumfries 84'), 23 Barella (16 Frattesi 77'), 20 Calhanoglu (21 Asllani 84'), 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco (30 Carlos Augusto 77'); 9 Thuram, 10 Lautaro. Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 77 Audero, 5 Sensi, 7 Cuadrado, 8 Arnautovic, 14 Klaassen, 17 Buchanan, 31 Bisseck, 70 Sanchez. Head Coach: Simone Inzaghi.

Booked: Barella (I), Lautaro (I), Hernandez (M), Gabbia (M), Tomori (M) Sent off: Dumfries (I), Hernandez (M), Calabria (M) Note: Simone Inzaghi (I) booked Stoppage time: 1' - 5'.

Referee: Colombo. Assistants: Meli, Alassio. Fourth official: Massa. VAR: Marini. VAR assistant: Mariani.