Inter Milan suffered another defeat in the Derby della Madonnina, extending their winless streak against city rivals AC Milan to eight matches across three different opposition coaches. The loss on October 31, 2026, saw the Nerazzurri concede two goals within the first ten minutes, scored by Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot, before Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back. Diego Moreira's free-kick restored Milan's two-goal advantage, sealing a 3-1 victory for the Rossoneri.
The defeat continues a troubling trend for Inter, who have conceded 13 goals in the early stages of the 2026-2027 Serie A season — the most among the league's top five teams. Most of those goals have come in the first half, forcing the team into repeated comebacks that may work against lesser opponents but prove costly against elite sides like AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Head coach Cristian Chivu acknowledged that injuries forced significant tactical adjustments. Captain Lautaro Martinez, midfielder Curtis Jones, and defender John Stones remain sidelined, while strikers Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Bonny were not fully fit. Chivu deployed Marcus Thuram as the lone striker supported by attacking midfielders Andy Diouf and Petar Sucic, with Djed Spence and Carlos Augusto on the wings. Notably, 2025-2026 season MVP Federico Dimarco was benched, coming on only as a substitute.
Midfielder Nicolo Barella highlighted the team's mental and tactical issues after the match. Moreira's decisive free-kick stemmed from Inter losing possession twice in quick succession while pushing for an equalizer, exposing a lack of concentration at a critical moment.
Despite the poor run, Inter remain near the top of the Serie A table. They face Como at San Siro next week before the November international break, offering Chivu and his squad a chance to address their defensive frailties and regain momentum.
