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·2 febbraio 2025
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·2 febbraio 2025
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
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The Milan derby is fast approaching, and its beauty lies in its unpredictability. Sometimes, however, the surprise isn't in the result, but in the scorers.
Let's look at the 10 "accidental heroes" who have scored in a derby or even decided the most important match for Milan and Inter fans.
A Brazilian defender or midfielder, André Cruz was signed by Milan from Napoli in 1997. He had a good touch for setting up plays and was a set-piece specialist.
On November 22, 1997, in the first leg of the derby, he scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-2. That would remain his only goal in Serie A with Milan (he scored another in the Coppa Italia).
In the return derby of the 2018/19 season, two unexpected scorers emerged: Bakayoko scored with a header, and Musacchio found the net in a goalmouth scramble late in the game. Two goals that proved futile as Inter won 3-2.
For Bakayoko, it would remain his only career goal with Milan, while for Musacchio, it would be his only one in Serie A (he had scored another in the Europa League for the Rossoneri).
A career in Serie A and only 3 goals in the league, one of them in the Milan derby. Inter defender Massimo Paganin scored from a corner on October 29, 1995, giving Inter the lead against Milan: the match ended 1-1.
For Paganin, it would remain his only Serie A goal for Inter, though he would score another in the Coppa Italia the following season.
In the mid-2010s, Milan and Inter offered many derbies below expectations, but Joel Obi's goal on November 23, 2014, followed by his somersault, remains an icon of that era.
That goal against Milan remains Obi's only Serie A goal for Inter, with a total of 2 goals for the Nerazzurri across all competitions.
A right winger with a good Serie A career, lots of speed but little goal-scoring inclination. One of these came in the Coppa Italia in the 84/85 season: a Coppa Italia derby in the semi-final second leg, and his 1-1 goal secured Milan's place in the final (which they then lost).
After retiring, Scarnecchia became a renowned chef, even working in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and currently runs a restaurant in Rome.
A midfielder with lots of running but few goals: Andrea Seno played two seasons at Inter, and on April 15, 1995, he scored a header from a corner to make it 1-0 in the derby, opening the scoring in a 3-1 victory.
This was his last goal for Inter and also his last in Serie A (4 in total).
Just one season at Inter, 13 appearances, and one goal for Ezequiel Schelotto. More precisely, on February 24, 2013, in the derby against Milan, he equalized with a header from a Nagatomo assist in the 71st minute, just three minutes after coming on.
Only 7 games played with Milan, 5 in the league and 2 in the Coppa Italia during the 1997/1998 season. Norwegian full-back Steinar Nilsen managed to score against Inter in the Coppa Italia derby, even from a free kick.
The first leg of the quarter-final ended 5-0, allowing Milan to advance to the final, where they lost to Lazio. Nilsen would never play in Serie A again, moving to Serie B with Napoli before returning to Norway.
Cristian Zapata is among the most prolific scorers on this list: 9 goals in Serie A, including the famous header on April 15, 2017, in the 97th minute, which secured a 2-2 draw for Milan. It's not so much the scorer himself but the exceptional moment that makes this goal iconic.
Another name that couldn't be missed is Cosmin Contra: a Romanian attacking full-back, one year at Milan, and 3 goals, including the screamer into the top corner in the first leg of the 2001/2002 derby: it was the temporary 2-1 in the 4-2 comeback win.
Another goal that only hinted at a player's talent is that of Hakan Sukur: a historic striker for the Turkish national team who played for Inter in the 2000/01 season. In his only season with the Nerazzurri, he scored just 5 goals, one in the first leg of the derby, a volley from a Seedorf assist.
Finally, we can't leave out Federico Giunti in the legendary 6-0 win for Milan in 2001: a free kick that wasn't deflected by anyone, deceiving the goalkeeper and finding the net for his only Serie A goal with Milan (3 in total for the Rossoneri).
📸 Emilio Andreoli - 2019 Getty Images