On 15 October 2017, the SanSiro was the scene of a derby between Inter and Milan which saw Argentina's MauroIcardi become the absolute protagonist. With a hat-trick, the attacker led Milan to a 3-2 victory, leaving Inter in a disadvantageous position and giving coach GianPiero Spalletti a smile of satisfaction.
Both clubs were undergoing renovations after a summer of extensive travel. Milan had invested in high-profile players such as Bonucci, Romagnoli, Kessie and AndréSilva, while Inter had consolidated their squad with the presence of Skriniar, Miranda, BorjaValero, Cancelo, Perisic and, above all, Icardi, who was now the undisputed captain. In this context, Icardi's performance was decisive.
The match started with an action by Candreva in the eighth minute, but the first goal came in the 28th minute when Icardi took advantage of a marking error by Perisic to score. Suso equalized in the 56th minute, but Icardi took the lead again in the 63rd minute, giving Milan the lead. Inter equalized in the 80th minute with an own goal from Handanovic, but Icardi's penalty goal in the 90th minute sealed the result. The final result was 3‑2 in favor of Milan.
The Inter team played in 4‑2‑3‑1, with Handanovic in goal and a defense made up of D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Miranda and Nagatomo. The midfield was led by Gagliardini and BorjaValero, while the attack was formed by Candreva, Vecino and Perisic, with Icardi at the spearhead. At Milan, the lineup was 3‑5‑1‑1, with Donnarumma in goal and a defense that featured Bonucci, Romagnoli and Musacchio. The midfield was occupied by Borini, Kessie and Biglia, while the attack was led by Suso and AndréSilva.
The result had immediate repercussions on the standings. Inter, already in a disadvantageous position, had to face a difficult recovery phase, while Milan, with the victory, was able to move closer to the top of the table and gave coach Montella a positive result. For Spalletti, Icardi's performance strengthened his confidence in his strategy and increased his hopes of winning the title. The next step for both teams will be to consolidate their position in the league, with Inter looking to recover points and Milan intending to continue building on a solid base.