MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Mike Maignan of AC Milan celebrates with his teammates following their narrow victory over Inter Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
After a tense and hard-fought match, Mike Maignan stood out as the unsung hero for AC Milan, celebrated for his crucial saves that helped secure a 1-0 victory against their city rivals, Inter. Following the match, Christian Pulisic modestly noted that he “only scored an easy goal, so Mike deserved” the Man of the Match accolade.
Throughout the game, the Rossoneri faced intense pressure, relying heavily on both Maignan and the woodwork, which thwarted attempts from Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martinez in the first half.
Yet, it was Milan who drew first blood on the scoreboard, with Pulisic capitalizing on a counter-attack initiated by Alexis Saelemaekers. But even with the lead, Maignan wasn’t finished; he executed a spectacular save against a penalty taken by Hakan Calhanoglu—his second of the season, having previously denied Paulo Dybala in a similarly heated showdown against Roma.
Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Inter 0-1 AC Milan
Maignan and Pulisic Shine for AC Milan
“All the saves were significant because they kept the clean sheet,” Maignan reflected in an interview with DAZN Italia. “We worked cohesively under pressure, and it’s when we unite like this that we achieve remarkable results. As I always say, we must maintain this momentum and keep pushing forward.”
In a timely reminder of the historical context, Maignan discovered that the last time an AC Milan goalkeeper saved a penalty in this storied derby—Ciprian Tatarusanu—the team clinched the Scudetto shortly thereafter. “I prefer not to draw comparisons,” he remarked. “Tonight’s victory is indeed positive, but there’s a long road ahead. We need to leverage these wins to continue our trajectory.”
This latest triumph marks Milan’s sixth consecutive unbeaten derby, with four victories and two draws across Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana.
The battle between Maignan and Pulisic for Man of the Match saw the goalkeeper ultimately earn the title from the Lega Serie A, a decision Pulisic wholeheartedly endorsed. “Mike absolutely deserved the accolade. I scored an easy goal, while he made about ten crucial saves,” he asserted on DAZN Italia.
This goal was Pulisic’s third in the Derby della Madonnina and seventh overall this season across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. “This is my role; I’m here to score goals. I was simply in the right place at the right time,” he stated with characteristic humility.
This match not only secures three vital points for AC Milan but also propels them into a tie for second place with Napoli on 25 points, as they surpass Inter, who now finds themselves in fourth position.
Interestingly, Milan’s recent form reveals a solid record against top teams—they have achieved wins against Bologna, Napoli, Roma, and Inter, while drawing with Juventus. However, points slipped away during encounters with the likes of Cremonese, Parma, and Pisa.
“It’s encouraging that we’re performing well against the top clubs,” Pulisic concluded. “We just need to maintain this intensity and replicate it in our remaining fixtures.”
