Matteo Gabbia scored a dramatic late winner as AC Milan triumphed over rivals Inter in the Milan derby, relieving the pressure on manager Paulo Fonseca.
The centre-back powered a header past Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the 89th minute, securing a crucial win and ending Milan’s six-match losing streak in the derby.
Christian Pulisic had opened the scoring for AC Milan early, but Inter equalized before the half-hour mark through Federico Dimarco, who became the first Milan-born player to score in the Derby della Madonnina since Paolo Maldini in November 1994.
Milan were awarded a penalty in the second half for a handball by Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, but the decision was overturned by VAR after replays showed the ball struck his shoulder.
Both teams pushed for a winner late in the game, and Milan seemed to have missed their chance when Tammy Abraham shot wide after a perfect pass from Tijjani Reijnders.
However, Gabbia rose to the occasion, heading home Reijnders’ free-kick to give Milan the victory at the San Siro, which both clubs share.
This defeat marked Inter’s first home loss in the league in a year, and they missed the opportunity to go top of the table. Milan, after struggling, are now level with Inter on eight points from five matches.
Pressure on Fonseca lessens with impressive win
Milan entered the derby under significant pressure, with reports suggesting manager Paulo Fonseca was already on thin ice just four games into the Serie A season after an underwhelming start.
A victory over Venezia the previous weekend had provided some breathing room, but a heavy defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League quickly intensified the scrutiny ahead of the clash with city rivals Inter.
However, Fonseca’s men responded with energy and intent, dominating the early stages.
Christian Pulisic capitalized on a loose ball from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, driving through the heart of the Inter defense and slotting past Yann Sommer to give Milan a deserved lead.
Inter struck back, with Lautaro Martinez combining well with Federico Dimarco, who finished with a precise low shot into the bottom corner.
Despite the equalizer, Milan remained assertive, starting the second half brightly. Rafael Leao’s header forced a save from Sommer, while Inter threatened through a smart volley from Martinez, well saved by Mike Maignan.
Milan continued to look more dangerous as the match progressed. Leao was again denied by Sommer after a sharp counter-attack, and Tammy Abraham missed a golden opportunity by shooting wide.
But with time running out, Matteo Gabbia delivered the winning goal with a powerful header, lifting Milan to seventh place, level on points with Inter, who only remain ahead on goal difference.
Despite the earlier unrest, Fonseca’s side has now regained momentum.