Inter, Milan draw as Balotelli returns to derby

MILAN (AFP) –

AC Milan‘s forward Mario Balotelli reacts at the end of the Serie A football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan at San Siro Stadium in Milan on February 24, 2013.

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli missed a handful of chances in his first derby in over three years as the Rossoneri shared the spoils in a 1-1 derby draw with hosts Inter Milan Sunday.

Milan took a 21st minute lead through striker Stephan El Shaarawy and dominated throughout before ultimately lamenting their earlier misses when Inter midfielder Ezequiel Schelotto levelled in the 71st minute.

The result left Milan in third, 13 points behind Juve but still one ahead of Inter and Lazio ahead of the latter’s home game against Pescara on Monday.

“It was a fair result,” said Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

“Milan had a great first half and they put us in difficulty but we came back into it in the second and could have snatched it in the end.”

Inter Milan’s forward Ezequiel Schelotto celebrates after scoring a goal during their the Serie A football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan at San Siro Stadium in Milan on February 24, 2013. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

“I’m a bit disappointed because we had a great first half and just didn’t put our chances away,” said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Inter were given a pre-match boost with the inclusion of central defender Andrea Ranocchia, who had been an injury doubt all week.

Yet despite Milan’s 1-0 defeat to the Nerazzurri at the San Siro earlier in the campaign, the visitors started the second ‘Derby della Madonnina’ as firm favourites having stunned Barcelona 2-0 in their Champions League first leg here last week and climbed up to third place in the table.

Milan dominated from the outset but the visitors spurned the first of several early chances, Balotelli slipping in front of goal after Kevin Prince Boateng had left Mattia De Sciglio’s cross from the left wing at his feet.

Milan’s opener was not long in coming. When former Milan striker Cassano lost possession in midfield, Boateng collected and coolly sent El Shaarawy through to beat Handanvoic with an angled shot with the outside of his boot.

AC Milan’s forward Stephan El Shaarawy celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan at San Siro Stadium in Milan on February 24, 2013. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Milan threatened again when Balotelli rose to meet a corner from the right which had Handanovic scrambling for the ball on the goalline.

Balotelli’s third clear chance followed moments later when he toe-poked a probing ball into the box only for it to be cleared.

Handanovic easily collected Balotelli’s header from Ignazio Abbate’s cross from the right but on 40 minutes the ‘keeper was at full stretch to parry when Balotelli thumped a freekick from 30 metres out.

Milan threatened from the outset of the second half, Boateng flashing a header wide from Montolivo’s freekick on the right after El Shaarawy had been hauled down.

Freddy Guarin gave Inter’s fans hope when he first-timed Palacio’s whipped cross in from the right only for Abbiati to pull off a superb save at full stretch.

On 57 minutes Balotelli flashed a header wide from a freekick but was left far more frustrated when Handanovic bravely blocked as the striker got in close to try and prod the ball home from a cross on the right.

It was his last real chance of the game, after which Allegri refused to point the finger of blame.

“Mario had a lot of chances to score in the first half, but let’s put things into perspective. He’s a 22-year-old playing against his old team in a very tense situation. I don’t think we can criticise him.”

Milan were still dominating, but the visitors were stunned in the 71st minute when Schelotto got on the end of Yuto Nagatomo’s cross to stun Abbiati only two minutes after replacing Cambiasso.

Inter had the momentum and moments later Palacio’s header to the right of Abbiati’s goal had the keeper scrambling, although at the other end Muntari sent a looping shot just to the right of an outstretched Handanovic.

Milan regrouped to dominate the final quarter hour, with El Shaarawy’s ambitious bicycle kick blocked and then M’Baye Niang, who replaced Boateng with 10 minutes to go, seeing his low strike meet traffic in the area.

However the Rossoneri were lucky not to suffer a late Inter goal against the run of play when Palacio saw a header go close.