Derby Della Madonnina - The 1990s and Present Years

The 1990s and Present Years

Arguably Milan's greatest-ever era took place during the late 1980s and had extended through to the mid-1990s. Often hailed as the greatest-ever Milan side, the team stemming form the 1989 European Champions managed by Arrigo Sacchi, contained legendary Milan players Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard amongst others. Milan's dominance, both domestically and internationally, had seen them capture four league titles and three European Cups (finishing runners-up two additional times) between 1989 and 1996. During this time, Inter had gone on to finish runners-up in the 1992-93 season (behind Milan) and won two UEFA Cups.

Inter's long wait for a league title began after 1989, finally arrived in 2006 (albeit controversially), when the Calciopoli scandal stripped Juventus of the 2005–06 title (as well as deducting points from Milan's final overall total) and handed it to the Inter, who were placed third behind both Juventus and Milan. This was seen as a controversial decision by many as even though the title won the previous season by Juventus was also stripped, it was left un-awarded - which many felt should have also been the case with the 2005-06 title. Inter went on to win the 2007 Serie A title as well, in a season which saw Juventus relegated from the top division (with Inter acquiring several of the major players from Juventus' title-winning season), and Milan, as punishment, starting the season with negative points, with a record-breaking run of 17 consecutive victories, in a largely handicapped league, on the way winning both fixtures against Milan. However, during the same season, Milan had captured their seventh European Cup/ UEFA Champions League, defeating Liverpool in the final in Athens, Greece.

As the Italian league recovered from the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal, Inter continued to dominate, winning each league up until the 2009-10 season in which they secured the title on the last day of the season. That season had also seen Inter become the first Italian side to win a treble. In addition to their league title, Inter had secured the Coppa Italia and their first Champions League title since 1965. The following season however, Milan, with the acquisition of several players including former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, recaptured the Scudetto, their 18th overall, leading the league standings from as early as November until the end of the season. That season had also seen Milan win both derby matches, keeping clean sheets in both fixtures. In the most recent 2011-12 season, Inter won both derbies, the first 1-0 and the second 4-2.