The Milan derby has ended all square in this evening's Serie A clash at the San Siro, as AC Milan and Inter Milan played out a 1-1 draw.
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The Nerazzurri very nearly broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when Sulley Muntari's poor pass fell to Mauro Icardi, leaving him effectively one-on-one with Diego Lopez, but the Argentine's subsequent weak shot was smothered by the Milan goalkeeper.
Just four minutes later, Fredy Guarin fired a powerful shot from 25 yards, but the ball flew straight at Lopez, who managed to gather it at the second attempt.
On the quarter-hour mark, the game was stopped temporarily as Dodo was elbowed in the face by Muntari, the Brazilian crumpling to the ground and bleeding from the nose.
Following a few tentative but poorly-executed chances midway through the first half, the Rossoneri took the lead in the 23rd minute when Stephan El Shaarawy's cross was met by Jeremy Menez, who steered the ball home with a first-time volley from 12 yards.
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Both sides continued to probe forward in the first half, but the Rossoneri would maintain their lead going into the break.
Milan came close to doubling their advantage in the 53rd minute through Giacomo Bonaventura, who found space inside the box with a clever turn before seeing his strike hit Andrea Ranocchia and drift past the post.
Just two minutes later, Lopez was on hand again to save the Rossoneri when Zdravko Kuzmanovic saw his shot saved by the Spanish keeper, before Joel Obi blasted over the bar.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian youngster pulled his side level just after the hour when he guided a shot perfectly into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
The game sprung into life thereafter, with challenges flying in and efforts striking the woodwork. El Shaarawy struck the crossbar in the 76th minute, while Icardi saw his volley also cannon off the bar.
Both sides enjoyed spells of dominance towards the latter stages of the game, but ultimately, the Derby della Madonnina would end with both sides earning a point apiece.
Giuseppe Labellarte
