The upcoming clash between Inter and archrivals Milan is arguably the most important Derby della Madonnina in years.

Of course, whenever these two storied rivals do battle, the result and the bragging rights that come with it are always important. But it has been years since Milan’s two heavyweight clubs have been locked in the Serie A title race against each other. 

But as the upcoming showdown approaches, Inter and Milan are separated by just two points at Serie A’s summit, with the first-place Nerazzurri leading their third-placed Rossoneri rivals.

As such, the result in the Derby could have huge permutations for the final resting place of the 2025/26 Scudetto, the race for which has captured attention far and wide. 

Scudetto Race Hots Up 

Serie A, much as it was at the same stage last term, is wide open this season. The top five teams are all separated by just three points, with Inter topping the pile ahead of Roma, Milan, Napoli, and Bologna. And it’s this wide-open battle for the honor of being crowned champions of Italy that has caught the eye of some unexpected media sources from far afield. 

Online casinos in the Land Down Under have been caught up in the Serie A excitement, rolling out a slew of online slot games in a bid to capture the very essence of a football title race. The popular Ignition Australia has released titles such as Zombie FC and Hat Trick Hero to their legion of players, delivering excitement in droves, just as San Siro does on any given weekend. But that’s not all. The fact that Ignition’s games are available to be played around the clock, provided one has a solid internet connection, even when Serie A games aren’t taking place, has also been a huge hit with players looking to get closer to the pitch. 

One can expect more and more players to log on to those lauded titles as the Serie A title race progresses and the destination of the Scudetto is duly decided. And in years gone by, it’s been the Derby della Madonnina which has, on occasion, played a decisive role in crowning a champion. Here are three such occasions when exactly that was the case. 

Martinez & Lukaku Change The Trajectory Of The Title Race 

Throughout the first two-thirds of the 2020/21 season, AC Milan were in control of the title race. With perennial champions Juventus struggling on the march toward a tenth straight title, both Milan clubs were suddenly in championship contention.

The Rossoneri topped the pile for much of the campaign, but a poor run of form opened the door for Inter. 

On matchday 22, one week before the Derby, the Nerazzurri assumed top spot in the Serie A table following a shock defeat for their rivals away at lowly Spezia.

Eight days later, the two adversaries did battle, with Milan knowing that victory would let them reclaim the top spot. For Inter, however, a win would put them four points clear in the title race as the battle headed into the spring. 

In the end, it was the Nerazzuri who dominated. A brace from Lautaro Martinez, as well as a second-half goal from strike partner Romelu Lukaku, sealed a famous 3-0 victory, and Milan never recovered.

Inter would go on to win 12 of their remaining 15 games, losing once, while the Rossoneri lost to the likes of Napoli, Sassuolo, and Lazio as they ultimately finished 12 points adrift of their eternal rivals. 

Had they not won the Derby, Inter’s stranglehold on the title would have never been established. But they did, and due to that, they would go on to secure their first title in over a decade.

Milan Get Their Revenge 

A year on from Inter’s Scudetto triumph under Antonio Conte, the Nerazzuri were gunning for the title once again. They had lost just once throughout their first 23 games and headed into the Derby sitting top of Serie A after a run of 11 wins in 13 games.

Victory against their archrivals would have seen them open up a seven-point gap in the title race, similar to the year prior. This time around, however, Stefano Pioli’s Milan had other ideas. 

Ivan Perisic gave Inter a first-half lead, but a quickfire second-half brace from Olivier Giroud stunned the Nerazzurri faithful.

Milan would win 2-1, cutting the gap between the two rivals to just one point and triggering a miserable run of form which would ultimately cost the champions a second straight title. Inter embarked upon a dreadful run of one win in their next six games, with the Rossoneri winning four throughout the same time frame. 

The title race would go down to the final day of the season. Milan held a slender two-point advantage, meaning that if they won at Sassuolo, they would claim their first title in 11 years. Ultimately, they did exactly that, claiming the title by two points. Had Inter managed to see out those final 15 minutes of the Derby, they would have ultimately been crowned champions.