Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Milan Win the Derby Again and Keep Title Hopes Alive

AC Milan secured a valuable 1-0 victory in the “Derby della Madonnina” against city rivals Inter Milan in the match played in Round 28 of the Italian Serie A.

With this win, the Rossoneri reduced the gap to the league leaders to seven points, keeping the title race alive as the season approaches its decisive stages.

Ecuadorian left-back Pervis Estupiñán scored the only goal of the match in the 35th minute — his first goal for Milan since joining the club — but it came at the perfect moment and delivered three crucial points. The victory lifted Milan to 60 points in second place and reinforced their recent dominance over the Nerazzurri, marking their third consecutive derby win and their fifth victory in the last seven encounters between the two sides across all competitions, alongside two draws.

Inter, meanwhile, suffered their second defeat against Milan in the league this season after losing the first match by the same scoreline. The loss also ended their unbeaten run of 15 consecutive matches. Their previous defeat had also come in the derby during Round 12 of the competition.

Inter entered the match dealing with key absences, most notably captain Lautaro Martínez due to injury, as well as French striker Marcus Thuram who missed the game through illness, which affected the team’s attacking effectiveness throughout the contest.

Milan converted their superiority into the decisive goal in the 35th minute. After a sequence of passes in midfield, French midfielder Youssouf Fofana delivered a through ball that released Estupiñán inside the left side of the penalty area, and the Ecuadorian full-back struck a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner past Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Unexpected Defeat for Roma

In another match from the same round, Roma suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Genoa.

Brazilian winger Junior Messias opened the scoring for Genoa from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute before Roma equalized just three minutes later through Ivorian defender Evan Ndicka. However, Portuguese substitute Vitinha secured the winning goal for the hosts in the 80th minute.

With the defeat, Roma remain on 51 points in fifth place and slipped out of fourth place in favor of Como on goal difference. Genoa, meanwhile, claimed their seventh league victory of the season under coach Daniele De Rossi, moving to 30 points with a six-point gap above the relegation zone.

In the relegation battle, Lecce boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over Cremonese. The goals for Lecce came from Argentine Santiago Pierotti in the 22nd minute and Serbian striker Niko Štulić from the penalty spot in the 38th minute, while Federico Bonazzoli scored for Cremonese in the 47th minute.

The win lifted Lecce to 27 points in 16th place, while Cremonese remain on 24 points in 18th place.

Elsewhere, Verona stunned hosts Bologna with a 2-1 victory. Bologna took the lead through English forward Jonathan Rowe in the 49th minute, but Verona responded with two goals from Danish player Martin Frese and Scottish striker Kieron Bowie. Verona moved to 18 points in 19th place, while Bologna remain on 39 points in eighth.

In another match, Fiorentina drew 0-0 at home with Parma. Fiorentina moved to 25 points in 17th place — the final safe position — while Parma sit on 34 points in 12th place.

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Unexpected Defeat for Roma

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