Derby della Madonnina Rivalry
The cross-town clash of Milanese giants.
The Derby della Madonnina, also known as the Derby di Milano, is a derby football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan. Both clubs are among the most successful in Italian football history. The derby is named after the Madonnina statue on top of the Milan Cathedral.
Quick Facts
- First meeting
- 1908
- Stadium
- San Siro; Giuseppe Meazza
- City
- Milan, Italy
- Rivalry type
- Local Derby
- Status
- Active
Lore & Background
In the past, Inter was seen as the club of the Milan bourgeoisie, while Milan was supported mainly by the working class. Today, this socioeconomic divide has largely been mitigated. The first derby match was held on 18 October 1908 in the final of the Chiasso Cup in Switzerland, won by AC Milan 2–1. The rivalry has been renewed annually since the 1926–27 season. Inter won the first Serie A title in 1929–30. Between 1928 and 1938 there were 10 victories for Inter, 7 draws and none for AC Milan, the longest period without a win in derby history. In 1951 Milan won their first Serie A title since 1907. In the 1960s, Sandro Mazzola (Inter) and Gianni Rivera (Milan) were key figures. Inter won back-to-back European Cups in 1964 and 1965. The derby did not take place in 1980–81 and 1982–83 due to AC Milan's double relegation to Serie B. Inter's 1988–89 Serie A title was won with an all-time record points in Serie A history with 18 teams under Giovanni Trapattoni. The two clubs met in the semi-finals of the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League and again in the quarter-finals of the 2004–05 edition. Inter's long wait for a league title ended in 2006 after the Calciopoli scandal. Inter won the treble in 2009–10. In January 2023 Inter won the Supercoppa Italiana defeating Milan 3–0.
Reader's Guide
The derby takes place at least twice a year via league fixtures, and also in the Coppa Italia, Champions League, and Supercoppa Italiana. Both clubs share the San Siro stadium, with Inter ultras traditionally in the Curva Nord and Milan ultras in the Curva Sud.
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