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Ronaldo scored against his former club, but Inter fought back to secure their second Milan derby win of the season.
This was the 266th Milan derby, the first with an afternoon kick-off in 14 years, but all eyes were on Il Fenomeno. The former Inter man faced his old club for the first time and supporters prepared 30,000 whistles to heckle him every time he touched the ball. Adriano, Esteban Cambiasso, Patrick Vieira, Alessandro Nesta, Kakha Kaladze and Serginho were injured, with Douglas Maicon and Marco Borriello suspended. Paolo Maldini celebrated his 600th Serie A appearance.
Both sides were on splendid form, Inter unbeaten in all competition since September and Milan without a Serie A defeat in 15 games. While the Nerazzurri suffered a surprise Champions League exit in Valencia midweek, their cousins were taken to extra time by Celtic. Neutrals were hoping for a repeat of the 4-3 result earlier this season.
Hernan Crespo failed to make the most of Daniele Bonera's early error and Marek Jankulovski fired over from distance. Milan slowly increased the pressure and Ronaldo was brought down by a double tackle from Marco Materazzi and Olivier Dacourt on the edge of the area. From the free kick, Andrea Pirlo curled inches past the near post.
Things got worse for the Nerazzurri, as Fabio Grosso limped off with a thigh strain.
Kaka and Ronaldo combined for a dangerous counter-attack, then on 19 minutes Kaka charged forward on one of his trademark runs and only some desperate defending managed to charge down the series of shots.
Inter were under the cosh in these early stages and Julio Cesar flew to fingertip Pirlo's long-range effort out from under the crossbar.
The 'home' side managed to break the siege when Jankulovski gifted Crespo a chance that he fired off target and threatened with a series of corner kicks.
There was controversy when Ibrahimovic was booked for simulation after a potential penalty challenge from Bonera. Although the Swede did appear to accentuate, there was certainly contact.
Ronaldo did hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for an offside position. Inter were now in control before the break, as Crespo's header skimmed the far post.
Luis Figo ran rings around Massimo Oddo and his angled drive flashed across the face of goal with Crespo failing to get on the end of it by a matter of inches.
However, against the run of play, it was Milan who broke the deadlock with - who else? Ronaldo gathered the ball from Gennaro Gattuso in midfield, took on Maxwell and smashed a left-foot strike past Julio Cesar into the far bottom corner of the net.
Dacourt also suffered an injury, so this required a defensive and midfield reshuffle. Ibrahimovic sprung the offside trap and his low strike was well parried by Dida at the near post.
Gattuso of all people nearly scored Milan's second, his angled drive flashing across the face of goal and going out by inches with Julio Cesar beaten.
Roberto Mancini completed his substitutions with Julio Cruz coming on for Crespo and within 20 seconds he scored the equaliser! Ibrahimovic ran down the right flank and his low cross was only prodded by Dida into the path of Cruz from six yards.
Cruz almost scored the goal of his career soon after. Ibrahimovic disposessed Ambrosini and put in another cross, this time from the left, and without the time to turn around Il Jardinero performed a backheel flick that was just over the bar!
The Nerazzurri were in control of the play with Dejan Stankovic having a good chance, so Milan introduced Marcos Cafu for Oddo and a central Pirlo free kick was comfortably smothered.
Ronaldo scuffed a volley wide and Alberto Gilardino came on for Seedorf in a 4-3-1-2 system. Jankulovski fired over frm a corner kick, but Inter took the lead for the first time 15 minutes from the end.
This time Cruz was the provider to take advantage of a Jankulovski slip and cut back for Ibrahimovic to sidefoot home from nine yards.
Paolo Maldini failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross and Inter held on under late pressure to win their second derby of the season.
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