#ONTHISDAY: 2016, AC MILAN 3-0 INTER

It was a special night beyond just the result. The derby on 31 January 2016 was a standout night in a transitional season for the Rossoneri. It had been a stop-start girone d'andata for Mihajlović's side, who had started poorly - with nine points from their first seven games - and fallen off the pace in the hunt for Champions League football. And yet, ahead of kick-off at San Siro, AC Milan found themselves just three points behind third-placed Inter, who had led the league for a long while in the first half of the season.

AC Milan went into the game at a sold-out San Siro fresh from the 2-2 draw in Empoli, but also from an important 2-0 win against Fiorentina, who were also competing at the top of the table that season. This spectacular display from the Rossoneri fans, dedicated to that famous Mark Hateley goal in October 1984, would prove somewhat of a premonition for the encounter.

The Serbian had settled on a 4-4-2 formation, led in attack by a strike partnership of Bacca and Niang. He also kept the same back four from previous outings of Abate, Alex, Romagnoli and Antonelli, ahead of goalkeeper Donnarumma, who was playing in his first-ever derby. The only change was a return to the starting line-up for Kucka in place of Bertolacci, a move mainly made to equal the physicality in midfield of Mancini's side. 

Inter slightly shaded the opening stages of an intense game but they didn't really threaten Donnarumma in the Milan goal. Most of the Rossoneri's offensive initiative was provided by Keisuke Honda, who caused plenty of problems for the Nerazzurri backline.

It transpired that the Rossoneri's opener in the 35th minute was provided by the Japanese technician. Honda swung in the cross towards Alex, who rose higher than Santon and headed past Handanovič to make it 1-0. The goal, which sent our fans into raptures, was eerily similar to the pre-match tifo in the stands.

The first half came to a close without any further moments of excitement and Inter came out of the traps after the break hungry for an equaliser. The tension was palpable and the Nerazzurri came close to levelling it up when referee Damato blew for a penalty against Alex for a foul on Icardi. The Argentinian striker stepped up to take the spot kick but struck the post to Donnarumma's left. That was the turning point.

It was the turning point because AC Milan, spurred on by almost conceding, found the drive to end the game as a contest in the space of just eight minutes. In the 73rd minute, Niang's cross found Bacca, who turned it home on the slide. It was the Colombian's - and Alex's - first goal in the derby, as well as Bacca's fourth goal in as many games in the league and Coppa Italia.

The Rossoneri didn't stop there; they wanted to put the result beyond any doubt. In the 77th minute, Bonaventura won the ball back high up the pitch, drove forward and then fed Niang in a great position in front of goal. The Senegalese forward hit his first attempt straight at Handanovič but stuck away the rebound - the Rossoneri on the bench and in the stands went wild. Much like for the previous two scorers, it was Niang's first goal in the derby.

Mihajlović's men even came close to adding a fourth goal late on but substitute Balotelli was denied by Handanovič. It ended 3-0 in what was a long-desired win in the derby on a brilliant evening.

The PUMA AC Milan Kits for the 2022/23 season are available: get yours now!