Rafael Leao scored two times and set up one more as AC Milan guaranteed triumph in the Derby della Madonnina regardless of a last part fightback by Inter Milan.
Simone Inzaghi's side started to lead the pack contrary to the rules following 21 minutes when Marcelo Brozovic burst through the resistance safeguard to move a completion past AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan
However, defending Serie A champions AC Milan responded quickly and restored parity through Leao, who found the far corner of the net after Inter conceded possession cheaply in the middle of the pitch.
AC Milan continued to dominate and took the lead nine minutes into the second half with Olivier Giroud guiding a shot past Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic after good work by Leao down the left.
And Leao scored a classic Milan derby goal to make it 3-1 to the hosts, beating his man with a wonderful piece of skill before sliding the finish into the far corner.
This forced Inzaghi into a series of changes and Edin Dzeko made an immediate impact off the bench, finishing from a Matteo Darmian cross to give Inter hope of a comeback.
But AC Milan held on to leapfrog their rivals and inflict a second defeat of the season on Inter.
Leao the difference-maker
Leao was voted Player of the Season in Serie A last season as AC Milan took the scudetto, and the 23-year-old was in sparkling form in this derby as he made the difference for his team, scoring twice and assisting another. Inter couldn't handle his direct running down the left wing.
In this form, there's no stopping Leao and AC Milan will need the Portuguese international to be sharp as they start their Champions League campaign next week. At 23, there's still time for Leao to improve further. On the basis of this performance, he could become one of the best players in the world.
Inzaghi to face questions
Inter were distinctly second best until Inzaghi made changes to his team in the second half. The biggest change saw Dzeko introduced and the Bosnian striker made an immediate impact, finding the back of the net to give Inter hope of a comeback. From that point on, it was a more open match.
Romelu Lukaku was missing for Inter, thus most anticipated that Dzeko should play out the job he accomplished for Inzaghi last season, yet he was ignored from the beginning for Joaquin Correa who did practically nothing to impact the match. The Inter supervisor will confront inquiries regarding his group choice after this
Maignan came up big
Had it not been for the actions of Maignan in the final 30 minutes of this match, Inter might have walked away with something to show for their late fightback. Indeed, the French goalkeeper made a series of stunning saves as the away team looked for an equaliser
Of course, AC Milan fans already know what Maignan is capable of after an impressive debut season for the club last term, but it wasn't just that he made a number of solid saves — he was a commanding figure in claiming high crosses into his box. When he needed to, Maignan came up big.
AC Milan vs. Inter Milan final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| AC Milan | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Inter Milan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Goals:
INT — Marcelo Brozovic — 21 mins.
ACM — Rafael Leao — 28 mins.
ACM — Olivier Giroud — 54 mins.
ACM - Rafael Leao — 61 mins.
INT — Edin Dzeko — 67 mins.
AC Milan vs. Inter Milan updates and highlights
77 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Calhanoglu lines up a shot from 20 yards out, it was heading for the top corner of the net, but Maignan somehow manages to reach it and makes an astonishing save! That will take some beating as the save of the season!
74 mins: Dzeko is denied! Leao of all people gives away the ball in the middle of the pitch and Inter come flooding forward. But Maignan makes the save with his feet to stop Dzeko from scoring his second goal off the bench. Inter are giving this a right go!
73 mins: AC Milan subs - Messias and Giroud OFF, Saelemaekers and Origi ON
63 mins: Inter subs - Barella, Bastoni and Correa OFF, Dzeko, Mkhitaryan and Dimarco ON. Inzaghi rings the changes, but has he left it too late? Is this match gone for Inter?
62 mins: AC Milan sub - De Ketelaere OFF, Brahim ON. Pioli makes his first change of the match and Brahim will get the final 30 minutes.
61 mins: GOAL! AC Milan 3 (61' Leao) Inter 1 - What a goal! Sensational from Leao who glides past the Inter defender with a wonderful piece of skill and slides the finish into the far corner of the net! AC Milan have a 3-1 lead in the derby!
53 mins: Straight into the wall! Calhanoglu lines up the freekick, but that was bellow his usual standards. He smashed the strike straight into the wall. The Inter midfielder went for power over placement and it didn't work.
51 mins: BOOKING - De Ketelaere. The young Belgian takes a booking for bundling over Correa as he attempted to take the shot.
50 mins: Wide of the post! Theo, not for the first time in this match, gets his head on the end of a freekick delivery into the box, but he could only guide his effort wide of the target. He had to twist his neck to even direct that towards the goal.
53 mins: Straight into the wall! Calhanoglu lines up the freekick, but that was bellow his usual standards. He smashed the strike straight into the wall. The Inter midfielder went for power over placement and it didn't work.
51 mins: BOOKING - De Ketelaere. The young Belgian takes a booking for bundling over Correa as he attempted to take the shot.
50 mins: Wide of the post! Theo, not for the first time in this match, gets his head on the end of a freekick delivery into the box, but he could only guide his effort wide of the target. He had to twist his neck to even direct that towards the goal.