The 265th Milan derby will be remembered as one of the most dramatic the city has ever seen as Internazionale claimed a 4-3 win.
Inter were 3-0 up shortly after half-time thanks to goals from Hernan Crespo (17), Dejan Stankovic (22) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (47), but Clarence Seedorf pulled one back four minutes later.
Marco Materazzi restored the three-goal advantage but picked up a second yellow card for his exuberant celebration and was sent from the pitch.
Inter were almost made to pay as Alberto Gilardino (76) and Kaka (90) reduced the arrears, but they held firm.
A combination of good goalkeeping by Julio Cesar and some resolute defending ensured Roberto Mancini's side held on to claim the win and move three points clear, albeit for 24 hours at least, at the top of Serie A.
‘I've got to admit that when we conceded in the 90th minute and then I saw there were five minutes of injury time, I was a bit edgy,’ admitted Mancini.
Nonetheless, his side were able to celebrate at the final whistle after a performance that took everything out of them.
‘I had only eight players on the field at the end,’ revealed the Inter coach.
‘With one man sent off and two others with just one leg, we were dying on the field in the last quarter of an hour.’
