Match Centre: Inter Milan 2-0 AC Milan

Full-Time

What a match! Jose Mourinho’s Nerazzuri now have one hand clenched on the Scudetto. Inter came out the stronger side, earning a early goal from the boot of Diego Milito. Minutes later, Wesley Sneijder was sent off for sarcastically aplauding the referee. With a man advantage, AC Milan were able to fashion a few chances. The game shifted again on sixty-five minutes when Goran Pandev curled in a free-kick putting Inter up two nil. Up two goals, Inter were able to focus on possesion and defending. AC Milan had a golden chance in added time when Lucio handled the ball in the box. Lucio was sent off with his second yellow card of the night. Ronadinho struck his penalty well but fellow Brazilian international, Julio Cesar, did brilliantly to reject a consolation goal. Inter move nine points clear with three more point tonight despite ending the match with nine men.

~As It Happened~

92º - Lucio is deemed to of handballed a quick shot from Huntelaar. Penalty AC Milan! Lucio recieves his second yellow, the Brazilian defender is sent off! Ronaldinho steps up and strikes it powerfully but Julio Cesar gets across to his right to reject his compatriot as he has so many times tonight!

91º - Seedorf chips the ball for Huntelaar who strikes the ball on the volley. Julio Cesar does brilliant once again tonight.

89º - Balotelli wins a free-kick near the corner. Inter take it short as they try to run out the clock. Balotelli tries some great skill on Abate, a few stepovers followed by a cheeky elastico.

87º - Substitution: Ivan Cordoba replaces Sulley Muntari.

85º - Lucio heads the ball away but cannot clear. The ball falls for Ronaldinho but the Brazilian’s half-volley is like so many other of his sides chances tonight, off target, well over the crossbar.

83º - Zanetti beats Jankulovski on the wing and finds Balotelli. The Italian has a go for goal but his effort is off target,

80º - Substitution: Mourinho replaces his other goal scorer, Diego Milito, with the young Mario Balotelli. Milito rightfully receives a standing ovation.

79º - AC Milan have had to resort to long-range shot in recent minutes. Jankulovski get his first touch of the ball, but it’s not a good one, his powerful shot flies well over the crossbar.

75º - Lucio gets the better of Antonini and the AC Milan defender’s momentum carries him out of play and he flies into the advertising boards. He seems to be in a bit of pain. Jankulovski comes on to replace him.

71º - Clarence Seedorf hard works for a yard of space, he strikes from distance. His effort is poor, he couldn’t get his boot around the ball and his shot ends up closer to the corner flag than the goal. The chance that reflects Milan’s frustration.

68º - Substitution: The goal scorer, Goran Pandev, is replaced by Thaigo Motta.

65º - GOAL! Inter 2-0 AC Milan, Goran Pandev curls in a free-kick from twenty yards. Ten men Inter are now two nil up! Dida had no chance as Pandev’s effort flew into the top-right corner of the AC Milan goal.

62º - Milito and Pandev counter. Diego Milito slots the ball in behind the AC Milan back-line for the on rushing Macedonian. Pandev chips the ball over Dida but his skillful effort hits the post, rejecting Inter a second goal. The first real chance of the second-half for Inter.

59º - Beckham whips in a brilliant cross, Borriello does well to rise above Lucio, but the Italian’s header flies just over the crossbar.

57º - Favalli curls in a cross from the left flank, Borriello latches on with a flicked header but Dida gets down well to quell the attack.

55º - Goran Pandev slots a through-ball for Diego Milito. The Argentine cuts past Thiago Silva but his shot lacks power. Dida collects.

52º - Abate surges forward. Santon knocks the ball out for a corner. Inter clear.

50º - It’s been five minutes of intense AC Milan pressure as Leonardo’s men look for an early second-half equalizer.

47º - The ball falls for Ronaldinho at the top of the box. The Brazilian strikes the ball on the volley but his effort flashes just wide.

46º - Seedorf gets his first touch on the ball with a clever flick to Ronaldinho. The Brazilian wins a free-kick. Beckham’s free-kick is headed behind by Milito. Seedorf gets his head onto the Englishman’s service but Julio Cesar does brilliantly to kick the ball away.

45º - Second-half kick off!

Seedorf comes on for Gattuso

Leonardo has a few last minute words with his squad as they make their way down the tunnel towards the pitch.

Half-Time: Inter 1-0 AC Milan

It’s been an enthralling first forty-five in Milan. Inter came out of the gates with an uncontainable drive, earning a few early chances. Diego Milito opened the scoring just ten minutes in after getting onto the end of Goran Pandev’s through-ball. Wesley Sneijder troubled the AC Milan defence on several occasions. The Dutch international seemed likely to double Inter’s lead but on twenty-six minutes Sneijder was sent off for ironically applauding in the referee’s face after Gianluca Rocchi doled out a yellow for Lucio’s dive. Once Inter were down to ten men, AC Milan were able to see much more of the ball although they weren’t able to create any concrete chances. Ronaldiho has been the best player for AC Milan so far. The match is beckoning for more scoring and several more bookings.

45º - Pirlo streaks in from the left flank. The Italian has a go from distance but his strike soars over the crossbar. Two minutes added time.

41º - Favalli goes over the top of Milito. Inter free-kick from 22 yards. Cambiasso’s driven shot is directly into the wall.

38º - Muntari earns himself a yellow card with a hard challenge on Gatusso twenty yards out. Pirlo’s curling effort smacks into Lucio in the Inter wall– corner AC Milan.

36º - Ronaldinho balls the into Borriello but Zanetti gets there first and knocks the ball out of play for a corner. Inter do well to clear Pirlo’s whipped in corner.

35º - Inter possessing well now, AC Milan are working very hard to try and break up the play in the midfield.

30º - Borriello flicks the ball for Ronaldinho at the top of the box. The Brazilian looked to have been through the Inter back-line but Walter Samuel did well to break up the play.

26º - Lucio ventures forward and the big Brazilian goes down after a challenge from behind. The Inter defender picks up the ball. The ref deems it a dive, yellow card for Lucio. The Inter players cannot believe it. Sneijder claps ironically in the face of the referee who gives him a straight red card for his actions. Incredible scenes at the Giuseppe Meazza.

22º - Pirlo receives the ball at the edge of the box. He tries a cheeky chip over the top for Borriello but Lucio gets there first and clears acrobatically.

21º - AC Milan launch an attack of their own. Beckham switches play for Ronaldinho. The Brazilian takes on Zanetti but his final pass is off the mark– Inter clear.

17º - Diego Milito centres the ball for a racing Sneijder but the Dutchman is stopped by Thiago Silva before he can smack another shot. Milito is causing many problems for Milan in the early minutes tonight. His movement is exceptional and Milan cannot deny him space and time on the ball.

15º - Inter counter, Milito receives the ball wide right and hits a quick near-post shot but Dida manages to palm it out for a corner.

14º - Gattuso is fouled by Muntari thirty yards out. Pirlo’s driven free-kick is blocked by the wall.

10º - GOAL! Inter 1 - 0 AC Milan, Diego Milito latches onto Goran Pandev’s lofted through-ball, the Argentinean beats Abate and cuts the ball across Dida’s goal and into the corner of the net. Inter have definitely deserved their early lead.

9º - The ball drops for Sneijder inside the Milan penalty box. The Dutchman strikes it low but Dida comes up huge with a point-blank range save.

6º - Luca Antonini centres the ball for Marco Borriello, but the striker cannot keep his shot down.

3º - Sneijder strikes a brilliant dipping volley from 25 yards, Dida is saved by the post.

2º - Ronaldinho goes in late on fellow Brazilian Lucio, but manages to escape an early booking.

1º - And we’re underway!

The players are taking the pitch; we’re only minutes away now.

Line-ups: