Historic Penalty Save Decides Milan Derby
In a dramatic Serie A showdown at San Siro, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made history by becoming the first shot-stopper to save a penalty from Inter Milan captain Hakan Calhanoglu in Italian domestic football. The French international's 73rd-minute heroics preserved his team's 1-0 lead and secured all three points in this fiercely contested derby match.
Mind Games at the Penalty Spot
The decisive moment arrived after a VAR review confirmed Strahinja Pavlovic had fouled Marcus Thuram inside the penalty area. As Calhanoglu prepared to take the spot-kick, Maignan employed unorthodox tactics, positioning himself significantly to the left of his goal - effectively daring the Inter captain to shoot towards his preferred bottom-right corner.
Calhanoglu had been virtually automatic from the penalty spot throughout his Serie A career, converting 27 of 28 attempts for Inter and maintaining a perfect record during his earlier spell with Milan. Only one previous miss against Napoli at the same San Siro end had blemished his remarkable record, yet no goalkeeper had ever managed to make a save against his powerful, precision strikes.
Maignan's psychological warfare paid dividends as he launched himself across goal, getting a strong hand to Calhanoglu's driven shot and pushing it to safety. In the Dazn television studio, Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon praised the save, noting: "I would have taken the same position Maignan did, but I don't know if I would have been able to make the save!"
Milan's Clinical Efficiency Trumps Inter Dominance
The victory represented a classic smash-and-grab performance from Massimiliano Allegri's side. Despite Inter creating more than twice as many scoring opportunities and producing higher-quality chances throughout the match, Milan demonstrated ruthless efficiency in front of goal.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Youssouf Fofana won two midfield challenges before driving forward and feeding Alexis Saelemaekers. Although the Belgian winger slipped as he shot, Yann Sommer could only parry the effort directly into the path of Christian Pulisic, who calmly converted the rebound.
Maignan had already produced several outstanding saves to keep Inter at bay before his penalty heroics. He denied Marcus Thuram with a full-stretch diving save, watched as Francesco Acerbi's header struck the woodwork, and produced an incredible stop to push Lautaro Martínez's volley onto the frame of the goal.
The frustration for Inter's players became increasingly visible, with Martínez responding to one Maignan save with arms outstretched in apparent disbelief at the goalkeeper's impregnability.
Broader Implications for Serie A Title Race
The victory propelled Milan to second place in Serie A, while Inter dropped to fourth position in what remains an intensely competitive title race. With almost a third of the season completed, just three points separate leaders Roma from fifth-placed Bologna.
For Inter, the defeat continues a worrying trend in high-profile fixtures. The Nerazzurri have now won just two of their last twelve league matches against direct rivals including Napoli, Juventus, Roma, and Milan, losing six of those encounters.
New Inter manager Christian Chivu offered no excuses after the match, focusing instead on Wednesday's Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid as an immediate opportunity to bounce back.
Meanwhile, Allegri emphasised that his Milan team remains in a development phase, stating: "It's a process. We will continue to grow." The victory demonstrated his trademark tactical approach in major fixtures - compact, disciplined, and patient - though questions remain about whether this style can sustain a genuine title challenge.
The result also highlighted ongoing concerns for both clubs regarding their goalkeeping situations. While Sommer has faced criticism for declining standards at 36 years old, Maignan's contract expires at the end of the season, making this match-winning performance a timely reminder of his world-class capabilities.
