5 Key Takeaways from Milan’s Victory Over Inter

AC Milan had an impressive performance to defeat Inter Milan 2-1 in Serie A’s fifth round.

Despite being the visitors and having an inconsistent form, Paulo Fonseca’s men aimed to beat their archrival Inter in the Milan derby, and they succeeded. Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia scored for AC Milan, while Federico Dimarco netted the only goal for Inter.

Here are the five key takeaways from Rossoneri’s impressive win:

Fonseca’s System Is Starting to Work

During the pre-season, AC Milan fans saw Paulo Fonseca’s tactical ideas, but they hadn’t fully clicked in competitive matches. However, yesterday, while playing away at Inter Milan, Fonseca’s football philosophy began to run smoothly.

The Portuguese coach deployed a 4-2-4 formation with Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders as the midfield pair, while Alvaro Morata played as a deep-lying second striker. This setup proved effective as Rossoneri managed 16 shots, 8 of which were on target, leading to two goals.

Matteo Gabbia Was Outstanding

Gabbia was given a starting role in central defense, replacing Strahinja Pavlovic, and he had a brilliant game. Against Inter, Gabbia was excellent with his tackles and interceptions. He also contributed to ball progression and ultimately scored the decisive header in the 89th minute, securing the 3 points for AC Milan. His efforts were recognized as he was named the Man of the Match.

Reijnders Is an Irreplaceable Piece

While Pulisic and Gabbia garnered much attention after Rossoneri’s victory, Tijjani Reijnders also deserved praise. The Dutch international acted like an “engine” for AC Milan, thanks to his impressive ball retention and ability to dictate the tempo.

Reijnders knew precisely when to carry the ball forward or make a quick pass. In addition to his beautiful assist for Gabbia’s goal, Reijnders made a fantastic through ball to Tammy Abraham, although the Englishman failed to capitalize.

The Front Four Played Well

Fonseca fielded a front four consisting of Abraham as the central striker, Rafael Leao on the left, Christian Pulisic on the right, and Morata dropping slightly deeper. This quartet combined well throughout the match, creating several notable chances.

Pulisic scored as early as the 10th minute, while Morata and Abraham executed high pressing effectively. The only downside was Leao’s first-half performance, but the Portuguese forward improved after the break. Overall, the combination of this front four shows great potential.

Defensive Issues Need Addressing

Emerson Royal and Fofana were among the players, alongside Leao, who didn’t perform at their best against Inter Milan. The duo was at fault for AC Milan’s only conceded goal, particularly Fofana, who should have closed down Lautaro Martinez instead of giving him the space to assist Dimarco.