AC Milan secured a thrilling 2-1 derby victory over Inter Milan on Sunday, with a late header from Matteo Gabbia earning them local bragging rights and pulling them out of an early-season slump. The 89th-minute winner from defender Gabbia came after he rose highest to meet Tijjani Reijnders’ free-kick, giving Milan a crucial victory that halted Inter’s six-match winning streak in the derby and kept their rivals from taking the top spot in Serie A.
The game had started brightly for Milan when Christian Pulisic’s superb individual effort put them ahead in the 10th minute. However, Inter responded with a Federico Dimarco equalizer just before the half-hour mark, setting the stage for a tense second half. Milan, buoyed by a strong display as the nominal away side at the San Siro, created several chances but were repeatedly thwarted by Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Sommer produced a string of excellent saves, including stopping efforts from Rafael Leao and Reijnders.
Leao was unlucky on multiple occasions, with Sommer denying him again in the 75th minute following a rapid counter-attack. Tammy Abraham also came close moments later, flashing a shot just wide. But it was Gabbia’s late heroics that sparked wild celebrations among Milan fans, finally breaking Inter’s derby dominance and lifting Milan to seventh place in the table, tied with Inter on eight points.
The victory was much-needed for new Milan coach Paulo Fonseca, whose team had faced pressure after a difficult start to the campaign. The win not only ended Inter’s run but also boosted Milan’s confidence after being jeered off the field following a heavy defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week.
Roma Overcome Udinese Amid Protests
Elsewhere in Serie A, AS Roma delivered a comfortable 3-0 win over Udinese, but the match was overshadowed by protests following the shocking dismissal of Roma legend Daniele De Rossi. Goals from Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala, and Tommaso Baldanzi secured the three points for Ivan Juric’s side, who now sit 10th in the league with six points.
However, the real story of the match was the protests from Roma supporters, upset over De Rossi’s sacking. The Curva Sud, the area of the Stadio Olimpico where Roma’s most passionate fans gather, remained empty for the first half an hour in a show of defiance. Fans hurled abuse at the team, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante singled out due to rumors of their involvement in De Rossi’s dismissal. Despite the on-field success, loud chants of De Rossi’s name echoed throughout the stadium.
Roma’s CEO Lina Souloukou, who resigned on Saturday following threats against her and her family, was also a target of fan anger. A banner hung outside Roma’s training ground labeled her as “evil,” underscoring the emotional intensity of the fallout from De Rossi’s firing.
Juric, speaking after the match, acknowledged the emotional toll on the players: “The boys were very sad about Daniele being fired, they were very honest about it and I appreciated that.” He also condemned the threats made against Souloukou and her family, stating, “It’s not right when these things start to involve family members.”
Fiorentina Get First Win
In other Serie A action, Fiorentina claimed their first win of the season, defeating Lazio 2-1 thanks to a brace of penalties from Albert Gudmundsson on his debut. The victory marked an important turnaround for Fiorentina as they look to build momentum in the early part of the campaign.
With these results, Serie A continues to deliver high-stakes drama on and off the pitch, with Milan’s resurgence, Roma’s fan unrest, and Fiorentina’s breakthrough all shaping an exciting season ahead.
