Inter boosts title hopes by winning biggest derby in decade

MILAN (AP) — Serie A leader Inter Milan boosted its title hopes as it beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Sunday in their biggest derby match in a decade.

Lautaro Martínez gave Inter an early lead and doubled his tally early in the second half, during Milan’s best spell of the match. Romelu Lukaku sealed the result in the 66th.

Inter remained top but extended its advantage to four points over second-place Milan. Napoli could move to within six points of Milan, having played a match less, if it wins at Atalanta later.

The stakes in the Milan derby were higher than they have been in the past 10 years. The last time Inter and Milan went into the Derby della Madonnina occupying the top two spots in the table was in 2011, when Milan was above Inter. The Rossoneri won that match and went on to win the league title — the last team other than Juventus to do so.

There were no supporters in the stadium because of coronavirus restrictions, but thousands of fans from both sides gathered outside to welcome the teams.

The match was even more highly charged because the last time the two sides met, in the Italian Cup quarterfinals, Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović and Inter counterpart Lukaku were involved in a heated confrontation that is currently under investigation by the Italian soccer federation.

It was Lukaku who helped Inter get off to the perfect start, with less than five minutes on the clock. His first cross was charged down by a great block from Milan defender Simon Kjær but the ball came back out to Lukaku, who floated another cross in for Martínez to easily head into the top right corner.

Milan’s first real chance came in the 15th minute when, following a goalmouth scramble, Ibrahimović attempted an audacious backheeled shot that Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanović had to dive to stop.

Theo Hernández also fired just the wrong side of the left post for Milan but it was Inter that went even closer.

Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Ivan Perišić’s shot but the ball came out to Martínez, who fired over the bar from point-blank range.

Milan Škriniar also headed a Christian Eriksen free kick narrowly over the bar with the last action of the first half.

Milan appeared a side transformed after the break and Handanović had to make three outstanding saves in quick succession in the opening couple of minutes to deny Ibrahimović twice and then Sandro Tonali.

But Milan’s good work was undone in the 57th when, following a rapid counterattack, Perišić rolled the ball across for Martínez to tap into the bottom left corner.

And Lukaku all but secured the win when he raced from near the halfway line before firing into the bottom left corner.

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