Emdad Rahman reports from Milan
AC Milan 3-0 Inter Milan
AC Milan took home the spoils as the Rossoneri cruised to an emphatic Serie A derby win over city rivals as Inter Milan.
Former Chelsea defender Alex broke the deadlock to head Milan into the lead before half time from a Keisuke Honda assist.
In the second half tempers frayed as 16 year old Gianluigi Donnarumma’s collision with Eder was not penalised. The rejected second half penalty appeal led to rising temperatures in both Inter players and management. Mancini’s remonstrations with referee Antonia Damato saw him dismissed to the stands for dissent.
Inter did win a penalty appeal later on in the game. Mauro Icardo, who had received a public dressing down after his woeful display against Carpi the previous week, had replaced Stevan Jovetic. The Argentinian had been on the field for six minutes before he was fouled by Alex for a penalty. Icardi hit the post from the resulting spot kick. The miss followed wild celebrations from AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic as the pendulum swung back to Milan.
In the final 20 minutes Inter heads dropped as Carlos Bacca converted a cross from M’Baye Niang, who went on to seal a comfortable 3-0 win with a strike from Giacomo Bonaventura’s pass. It was Bacca’s eleventh goal of the campaign.
Mario Balotelli, who received the biggest cheers/boos of the night was brought on to play after 79 minutes. The on loan Liverpool striker came on for Niang and twice nobbled Chilean Gary Medel to receive a yellow card within a minute of his introduction to the game. There are reports that Mihajlovic is not fully convinced by Balotelli, and the Italian may return to return to Liverpool with Milan unlikely to agree a permanent deal.
Milan (4-4-2): Donnarumma, Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli, Honda (Boateng 89), Kucka, Montolivo, Bonaventura, Niang (Balotelli 79), Bacca (Bertolacciat 85) Booked: Alex, Kucka, Balotelli Scorers: Alex 35, Bacca 73, Niang 77
Inter (4-2-3-1): Handanovic, Santon, Miranda, Murillo, Nunes Jesus, Medel, Brozovic, Perisic (Felipe Melo 77), Citadin Martins, Ljajic (Telles 87), Jovetic (Icardi 64) Booked: Jovetic