Yahoo Sports GdS: Lodetti, Ibra, Greaves and Giroud – when the derby changed everything
The derby between AC Milan and Inter is one that has been played hundreds of times and carries many different stories, including the times when it has transformed the season for one of the two sides.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall how Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia’s goals gave Milan a shock derby win one week ago and now red is on top of blue in the Serie A table, on goal difference at least.
It has happened in the past too, such as with Nereo Rocco as head coach in 1961-62. He made a good start to life at Milan then stuttered after a draw and two defeats. The derby arrived, the Englishman Jimmy Greaves was full of cold and had no desire to play and ‘preferred the pubs to training’.
Despite this, on October 1st, Milan won 3-1 ‘away’ against Inter and Greaves was the best player on the pitch, scoring a goal and putting in a brilliant performance. Rocco’s life changed and then Greaves’ did too: he left for London and never came back, but the Rossoneri would win the Scudetto.
Two years later it was Milan 3-0 Inter. Giovanni Lodetti was the man next to Gianni Rivera who was meant to do his running for him and to mark Inter’s danger man Luis Suarez, but he instead scored two goals and became the hero.
Ruben Buriani was the protagonist in November 1977 during Inter 1-3 Milan: with his bright blonde hair he scored a brace, he lot up the game and San Siro. On 18 March 1979 Inter were 2-0 up but De Vecchi brought Milan level before Beppe Viola won in late on.
More Stories / The Match
MN: Milan handed double injury boost ahead of Bayer Leverkusen game – the details
Tuttosport: Fonseca’s ‘4-2-fantasia’ faces ‘the German exam’ vs. Leverkusen
‘What do you think? We have a match against Milan’ – Xabi Alonso spiky in press conference
Then the metamorphosis of Daniele Massaro came. Adriano Galliani bought him from Fiorentina but he never struck a good feeling with Arrigo Sacchi. He went to Roma, came back under Fabio Capello and, in April 1992, he beat Zenga to a cross from Fuser to win the derby right before the full-time whistle.
Gianni Comandini also scored a brace, in the 6-0 derby of May 2001. It was a temporary peak, because his footballing career would not have any further upsurges, but when we talk about that 0-6 scoreline he is there, fixed in history.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was at the centre of a storm when he scored a penalty to win the derby during the 2010-11 Scudetto season after his celebration under the Nerazzurri’s Curva and the fierce duel with Materazzi. Then there was Olivier Giroud’s brace, also ending with a league title. The derby can change a lot.
