Inter Milan Falls to AC Milan as Chivu's New Formation Fails

Inter Milan lost 3-1 to AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina on Saturday, extending their winless run to eight consecutive matches. The defeat marked the first time the Nerazzurri faced a new AC Milan coach since their last city derby victory on April 22, 2024. That previous win had also secured the Serie A title for Inter, making the current eight-match drought a stark contrast to that recent success.

AC Milan established control within the opening ten minutes of the match. American striker Christian Pulisic and midfielder Adrien Rabiot each found the net during this early surge. Inter reduced the deficit in the first half when Alessandro Bastoni scored, but the momentum shifted back to the Rossoneri shortly after.

Diego Moreira extended Milan's lead with a free kick that restored their two-goal advantage. The Belgian midfielder had already provided two assists in the match before scoring his second goal of the game. This strike proved to be the decisive moment, as Inter was unable to recover fully in the second half despite subsequent efforts.

Inter conceded 13 goals in the opening matches of the 2026-2027 campaign, the highest total among the top five teams in Serie A. Most of these goals were allowed in the first 45 minutes, forcing the team to mount comebacks in later stages. Against smaller opponents, this pattern has occasionally resulted in victories, but the approach struggled against top-tier competition like AC Milan.

Midfielder Nicolo Barella noted after the match that the team is aware of the recurring tactical and mental issues. He was a central figure for Inter in the first half, yet his side suffered from a lack of concentration. The team gave away possession twice in under 30 seconds, a lapse that directly led to Moreira's free kick. This sequence occurred while Inter was pushing to score their second goal, highlighting the defensive fragility in critical moments.

Manager Cristian Chivu attributed the lineup changes to a series of injuries. Captain Lautaro Martinez, midfielder Curtis Jones, and defender John Stones were all sidelined. Chivu stated that strikers Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Bonny were not fully fit. Consequently, he deployed Marcus Thuram as the sole striker, with Andy Diouf and Petar Sucic positioned ahead of the midfield line. Wingers Djed Spence and Carlos Augusto flanked the formation.

Chivu also benched Federico Dimarco, the 2025-2026 season MVP. The Italian winger entered the game from the bench later in the match. His limited minutes reflected a disappointing start to the season for the player. The tactical shift to a single-striker system aimed to address the injury crisis but did not resolve the defensive vulnerabilities exposed by the early goals.

Despite the loss, Inter remains near the top of the Serie A standings. The team has time to regroup before the international break in November. Their next match is scheduled for next week when they host Como at San Siro. This fixture will serve as another test for Chivu and his squad as they seek to turn their season around.