Inter take the spoils in Milan derby and leapfrog Juventus
AC Milan 0-2 Inter Milan: as it happened
"This night is black and blue"
Having already had the better of the first half - a period in which, admittedly, both sides might have opened the scoring - Inter Milan never really looked in danger of being denied the points from the moment Marcelo Brozovic's shot was deflected past Gianluigi Donnarumma soon after the break.
And 13 minutes from time in the San Siro, Romelu Lukaku's expert header rounded off a deserved victory that saw Antonio Conte's men make it four wins from four so far in Serie A.
The Nerazzurri return to the top of the table, two points ahead of defending champions Juventus, and have now gone seven Serie A games against Milan without defeat - a run that stretches back to January 2016. Thanks for reading!
Peep peep peeeeeep! Inter win the Milan derby, and deservedly so!
It's so, so nearly 3-0! Substitute Candreva has acres of space to run into as Inter set off on a break that has Milan thoroughly outnumbered at the back. He accelerates into the box past Romagnoli and shoots... but after deflecting off the Milan captain's foot and onto the near post, the ball bounces across the goalmouth and away from danger!
Five minutes of time added on. Inter are heading for four wins from four. They've been better than their near neighbours; simple as that.
Rebic is booked for an infringement which I must confess I missed.
Oooh, hello! Just as I was about to say how little Milan have threatened going forward since the break, Theo Hernández does a very convincing impression of the Theo Hernández who was actually quite good at Alavés a couple of seasons ago, putting on the afterburners and bursting between two black and blue shirts and into shooting space inside the penalty box. His shot is off the post and out for a goal-kick, however.
Croatia international Ante Rebic was brought on by Milan for Leao a couple of minutes ago, I neglected to inform you.
D'Ambrosio is booked for bringing down Theo on the left, and Milan have a free-kick... which is sent straight into Handanovic's arms. Moments later, however, they get a second bite at the dead-ball cherry - and, with Biglia standing over it, the opportunity is once more wasted.
Over in LaLiga, by the way, Granada are now 2-0 up on Barcelona and heading for a shock win over the Spanish champions. Join Johnny for that here.
Off the bar! That was so close to a third for Inter. Lukaku knocks the ball back for the the recently introduced Politano to shoot - and his left-footed curler is inches away from finding Donnarumma's top corner.
Lukaku heads home! 2-0 to Inter and that, surely, is that.
Barella picks it up on the left, opens up his body and drifts over a right-footed cross right onto the Belgian's head - and he makes no mistake, glancing the ball expertly past Donnarumma and into the far corner.
Inter replace Lautaro with Matteo Politano. Just under 15 to go in Milan.
Theo is straight into the action, pinging in a slightly overhit cross before winning a free-kick off Godín on the left. Suso stands over a dangerous dead-ball opportunity for the Rossoneri... but when the delivery comes in, Romagnoli is penalised for a foul and the chance is lost.
A change for each side. Inter bring on Matías Vecino for Stefano Sensi in midfield, while Milan throw on Theo Hernández at left-back in place of Ricardo Rodríguez. That's Theo's Serie A debut for the hosts, by the way.
With his back to goal and about 10 yards out, Lautaro's backflick is right into Donnarumma's arms. At the other end, Leao does well to get himself into crossing space on the left, but sends in a delivery that is easily dealt with.
Unless Milan can find a way to turn this around in the final 20 minutes, Inter are set to make it seven straight Serie A games without defeat to Milan.
Paquetá immediately lifts a ball into Piatek which, if the Pole can bring it down, may well leave him in a clear shooting position just inside the box. He doesn't bring it down.
Milan boss Giampaolo makes the first change of the night, replacing Calhanoglu with Lucas Paquetá.
As things now stand, Inter are going back two points clear of Juventus. Milan, meanwhile, will slip to ninth.
Inter have their tails up. First, Romagnoli has to look alive to head clear an Asamoah cross whipped wickedly into the 'corridor of uncertainty', before Lautaro then brings the ball down and forces a smart stop from Donnarumma on the angle.
Inter again work the ball to Brozovic in a shooting position, but this time there are no nasty deflections, and Donnarumma is easily down to his right to gather a tame effort.
Milan are calling for a penalty when Skriniar stoops to head clear Calhanoglu's free-kick delivery into the box, but Signor Doveri is not interested, nor are his colleagues in the VAR booth.
It's in the back of the net! Inter lead! Brozovic's low strike deflects off Leao's outstretched boot, causing the ball to spin past a wrongfooted Donnarumma and into the far corner.
There's a brief pause while referee Daniele Doveri is called over to the touchline to take a second look at the goal, because Lautaro - who is definitely in an offside position - wafts a boot at the ball as it trundles into the net.
However, the Argentine clearly doesn't get a touch on it and doesn't seem to be distracting Donnarumma either, so goal given!
Inter win a free-kick after Conti brings down Sensi on the left, and is booked for his misdemeanour. It's taken short to Brozovic, and...
Lautaro scuttles towards the edge of the Milan area and prepares to pull the trigger, but is well run off it by a delegation of Rossoneri players led by Kessié.
No changes for either side at half time, incidentally.
As things stand, Inter are going level on points with the defending champions, while Milan are heading into the Champions League spots.
Peeeep! Back up and running at the San Siro.
Elsewhere in Serie A, you might be interested to know that Juventus great Gigi Buffon equalled Milan legend Paolo Maldini's total of 902 career club appearances when he played for the Vecchia Signora in today's 2-1 win over Verona.
Here are the players posing together pre-match, with the "Derby Against Racism" message that is the motto of tonight's clash.
Peeep peep peeeeep!
That's half time at the San Siro, where Inter have had the better of the first half and, but for a combination of Gianluigi Donnarumma's saves and Danilo D'Ambrosio's inability to direct a ball into the net from five yards out, would have something to show for their first-45 superiority.
However, Milan will be encouraged by those last five minutes of the period, in which only a Kwadwo Asamoah block prevented Suso from capping a fine individual run with the opening goal.
See you in 15!
Sensi pings a volleyed ball across goal, but Milan skipper Romagnoli clears.
A jinking Leao draws a foul from D'Ambrosio, leaving Milan with a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left. Suso's delivery is rank, however. A waste.
Three minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
Milan have clearly taken heart from that Suso chance. Leao twists and turns himself into a crossing position on the left and dinks a delicious ball right onto Piatek's bonce at the back post. The Pole heads off target, though - and really should have made more of the opportunity.
When Inter play the corner short, Suso wins it back off Sensi and sets off on a run that takes him the full length of the field and into a shooting position just inside the AC Milan box. Just as the young Spaniard looks like he's going to give the Rossoneri a not-altogether-deserved lead, however, a stetching Asamoah blocks! Leao and Kessié are left going absolutely spare at Suso, as both were in good positions either side of him.
Inter are turning the screw once more now, and have a corner. But wait...
Ah, hold on. The offside decision appears to have been against D'Ambrosio, not Lautaro. I stand corrected.
Donnarumma saves well again! Barella crosses to the back stick, and D'Ambrosio launches himself into a spectacular effort that AC Milan's keeper acrobatically blocks on its path towards the far corner. Lautaro then prods in the rebound, but the flag is up! VAR confirms that the Argentine was offside.
Leao spins superbly and exchanges passes with Piatek before feeding it out to the right, where Conti hangs over a cross that the Polish striker is inches away from getting his head onto. Lovely work from Leao.
D'Ambrosio chests down and crosses from the right, but Milan get it out for a corner. Inter swing it back into the middle, but the Rossoneri deal with it once more. Milan look a touch more comfortable now.
Lautaro clashes with Biglia, who does the grab-the-ball-as-you-flop-to-the-turf act, and - there's a surprise! - has the free-kick given against him for handball. The Inter players are incensed that Signor Doveri doesn't book the Argentine.
Calhanoglu is again on the ball, and again strikes towards goal - but Godín gets his body in the way to deflect the Turk's shot behind for a corner... which comes to zip. Better from Milan, though.
Just as I say that, Milan have the ball in the back of the net. Calhanoglu's fierce low strike into the corner is ruled out, however, as Kessié is adjudged to have handled. Inter's Asamoah also looked like he committed a handball of his own just before it hit Kessié, though.
Blimey. How are Inter not ahead there? Sensi gets to the byline and cuts it back for Lautaro, whose sidefooted shot is parried by Donnarumma. The loose ball falls right to D'Ambrosio at the back post, though, and he has the goal gaping - but contrives to turn it onto the post! Milan survive. After a tight first 10 minutes, it's been all Inter in the second 10.
There's a fine stop from Donnarrumma! Inter slip Lukaku into acres of shooting space on the right-hand side of the penalty box, but the young Italian gets down with a strong arm to beat out the striker's angled effort!
Now it's Inter's turn to win a free-kick, as Lautaro is fouled on the left. They do swing it into the mixer, but Sensi's delivery is cleared.
Granada vs Barcelona live on AS English
We've also got live coverage of Barcelona's LaLiga trip to face Granada, where there has been an early goal... Join Johnny for all the action at Los Cármenes.
Kessié is bundled over on the right wing, and Milan have an opportunity to swing it in. Ah... that's the Englishman in me speaking, clearly. They play it back short, and that's the last we hear of that Rossoneri attack.
Ricardo Rodríguez is a very, very lucky boy. It's been a cagey, uneventful first 10 minutes, but the Swiss full-back almost hands Inter the opening goal on a plate there. He plays a suicidal backpass to Donnarumma and, but for the goalkeeper's quick reactions, Lautaro Martínez would have been in for 1-0. As it is, Milan scramble it behind for a corner kick, which Diego Godín heads into Donnarumma's arms.
D'Ambrosio pumps a curling ball into the box and, when the ball is worked to Sensi on the 18-yard line, the little midfielder looks for a moment like he's about to pull the trigger for the first shot of the night. However, he dallies a little as he looks to carve out space to strike, and is run off it.
Daniele Doveri is tonight's referee, incidentally.
Peeeep! The Derby della Madonnina is underway in Milan.
Derby Against Racism
Tonight's contest has been rebranded the "Derby Against Racism" and, ahead of kick-off, the two teams pose together behind a sign in support of the fight against the problem. The opening weeks of the Italian league season have been particularly marred by racist incidents, with Inter striker Romelu Lukaku among the vicitms.
Stat attack (II)
However, it is also worth noting that Milan, who are this evening's hosts, are on a four-game home winning streak in the Italian top flight, and have conceded just the once in the process.
Stat attack
Milan did knock Inter out of the Coppa Italia in December 2017, but have not beaten the Nerazzurri in Serie A since goals by Alex, Carlos Bacca and M'Biaye Niang earned them a 3-0 win way back in January 2016.
Kessié brings up century of games for Milan
Midfielder Franck Kessié tonight makes his 100th appearance for Milan, by the way.
In fairness to Rushy, that infamous quote from his unsuccessful 1987/88 season at Juve does, unfortunately, appear to be apocryphal. If you believe this explanation given by the man himself in this 2016 interview with FourFourTwo, that is.
Ramsey on target for Juve on Serie A bow
Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey also scored for Juve on what was his Serie A debut, incidentally, and in the process became the first Welshman to score in the Italian top flight since Ian 'it's like living a foreign country' Rush.
Leaders Inter provisionally leapfrogged by Juve
Having come into week three top of the pile, Inter can tonight re-establish their two-point advantage over defending champions Juventus, who had a second-half Cristiano Ronaldo penalty to thank as they came from behind to beat Hellas Verona this afternoon.
Conti and Leao in for Milan
There are also two changes to the Milan team, Andrea Conti coming in for the suspended Davide Calabria on the right side of defence, and Rafael Leao replacing Lucas Paquetá in attack.
Two changes for Inter
Inter boss Conte makes two changes to the side that started the Champions League draw with Slavia Prague, Antonio Candreva and Roberto Gagliardini making way as Diego Godín and Nicoló Barella return to the XI.
AC Milan team news
Starting line-up: Donnarumma, Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodríguez, Kessié, Biglia, Calhanoglu, Leao, Suso, Piatek
Substitutes: Paquetá, Borini, Gabbia, Rebic, Bonaventura, Theo, Castillejo, Duarte, A. Donnarumma, Reina, Bennacer, Krunic
Inter Milan team news
Starting line-up: Handanovic, Godín, De Vrij, Skriniar, D'Ambrosio, Barella, Brozovic, Sensi, Asamoah, Lukaku, Martínez
Substitutes: Vecino, Padelli, Dimarco, Ranocchia, Politano, Candreva, Biraghi, Gagliardini, Alexis, Bastoni, Lazaro, Valero
AC Milan vs Inter Milan: preamble
Buona sera!
Welcome to our live coverage of the first Derby della Madonnina of the 2019/20 Serie A season, as Inter Milan look to continue their perfect start to the league campaign against city rivals AC Milan.
Antonio Conte's men are Italy's initial pace-setters after registering three league wins from three, and go into tonight's week-four clash on a sequence of six Serie A meetings with the Rossoneri without tasting defeat, a run that goes back nearly four years.
However, their early-season momentum was partially halted in the Champions League in midweek, when they were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Slavia Prague, and indeed required a stoppage-time equaliser from Nicolo Barella to salvage a point.
Meanwhile, Marco Giampaolo's Milan have recovered from an opening-day loss to Udinese to post two 1-0 victories on the trot in weeks two and three, and this evening play host to Inter sitting seventh in Serie A.
Team news coming up.