Handanovic takes spoils in Balo-derby

 

Mario Balotelli failed to score as AC Milan drew an engrossing derby against rivals Inter on Sunday night, writes Ben Lyttleton...

 

Sunday was a big day in Italy, and not just because it was the day of Italy's elections; it was also Inter Milan against AC Milan, the Derby della Madonnina and, just as important, the first time Mario Balotelli has come up against his former club since returning to Italy from Manchester City last month.

 

As always, Balotelli dominated the headlines pre-match, which was being called 'the Balo-derby' even before the striker admitted he would celebrate if he scored against Inter. As it turned out, Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had other ideas: three times the Slovenian stopper prevented Balo from scoring in four successive Serie A games, one marvellous save from a first-half header the pick of them.

 

At that stage, Milan were threatening to run riot and had already taken the lead through Stephan El Shaarawy's smart finish from a delightful Kevin-Prince Boateng through-ball. Fears that Milan would be suffering a post-Barcelona victory hangover were wide of the mark: even though they were favourites for this game (unlike against Barcelona), they started excellently and Boateng and Sulley Muntari, the scorers in midweek, were particularly impressive.

 

Inter, without the injured duo Walter Samuel and Diego Milito, had started with Ricky Alvarez in the line-up, and were struggling on their right flank, as time and again Mattia De Sciglio would burst forward and pressure Yuto Nagatomo, with Stephan El Shaarawy offering support as well. Had Inter not watched the young Italian trouble Dani Alves four days earlier?

 

In the second half, the Handanovic heroics became significant, not least when, with 22 minutes left, substitute Ezequiel Schelotto's glancing header from a Yuto Nagatomo cross on the left leveled the scored. The Argentine wept with joy when he scored. Somehow Inter, who played so poorly in losing to Fiorentina last week, failed to carry their momentum on after that and it was Milan who had the best chances late on: Schelotto blocked El Shaarawy's volley and then Handanovic - who else - pushed out sub M'Baye Niang's effort.

 

As for Balotelli, short of the three early chances, it was a relatively quiet night. There was a moment when things looked to be getting heated, and Inter captain Javier Zanetti had a word in his ear, but this Balotelli was in control of his emotions, and not looking to cause trouble unlike in the past.

 

Vincenzo Esposito used to coach the young Balotelli for Inter's youth team, and before the game, remembered the striker walking out of school mid-lessons with no explanation. "The day before a really important match, I had drummed home to the players how important preparation is," Esposito said. "Mario went out looking for an enormous ice cream and he returned and licked it right in front of me."

 

As an Inter first-team player, he was prone to outbursts of temper, most famously after Inter's 2010 Champions League semi-final first leg win over Barcelona, when he threw his shirt to the ground and stormed off. When El Shaarawy scored, Balotelli was one of the first on the scene to join in the celebrations.

 

The result leaves Milan one point ahead of Inter and in third place, though Lazio plays struggling Pescara on Monday night, for which Lazio are 1.28 to win and could move three points clear. Considering that when Inter ended Juventus's 49-game unbeaten Serie A run back in November, they were 13 points ahead of Milan, it has been quite a turnaround.

 

Milan are now 1.72 to finish in the top three, with Inter 2.1 and Lazio 2.82. With a Champions League second leg tie against Barcelona to come in the next few weeks, these are exciting times for Milan; and even though the chance was missed to extend the lead over Inter, current form suggests that Lazio could be providing Milan's biggest threat to qualifying for the Champions League next season.

 

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