Milan v Inter: five historic matches from the Derby della Madonnina

Few contests in world football match the Derby della Madonnina for passion, style, aggression and class on the pitch. It is an inclusive derby, where families can sit together and watch a show as spectacular as Milan fashion week. Yet, given that both clubs are often competing for trophies, their meetings at San Siro usually produce drama. The Nerazzurri and Rossoneri have given us some classics over the years. Here are some of their most memorable encounters.

Europe was still feeling the effects of the second world war and, in Italy, football and economic growth would be linked for decades. The post-war context heaped even more pressure on Inter, who had not won a Scudetto for nine years and had only conquered the league five times since their inception in 1908. They would go on to finish third in the 1949-50 season, behind Juventus and Milan, but they approached this derby with high hopes.

Milan also were confident of having a fine season. After all, they had a forward line of Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm – the three forwards who had led Sweden to Olympic gold at the 1948 Olympics in London. This triumvirate would become legendary in Milan, winning the Scudetto together in 1951.

When this derby was played, Milan had only won three league titles. Their fans had expected them to challenge in 1949-50 but they had started the campaign poorly, losing to Juventus and drawing with Como and Lazio in the build-up to their meeting with Inter. It was time to show what they could do.

The two teams had drawn 4-4 the previous season, but what happened in November 1949 was extraordinary. To say this game started quickly would be an understatement. When Liedholm scored in the 19th minute, he made it 4-1 to Milan.