Milan and Inter do good Champions League business with striking red spots

With red-stained faces, AC Milan and Internazionale did good business this Italian soccer night in the battle for Champions League tickets in Serie A.

Leaders Napoli are already almost impossible to catch up with, leaving a “fittie” between five teams over three spots on Europe’s highest stage. Both teams from Milan had a difficult evening, though.

In the Berlusconi regional derby against Monza, AC Milan won for the second time this season. The promoted Monza bravely resisted, but could not snatch any points from the big city’s regional rivals at home: 1-0.

In the piquant duel between Monza, owned by Silvio Berlusconi, and the top Milan club, where the former prime minister ruled for many years, the only goal was scored after half an hour by Brazilian Junior Messias.

Milan settles a little more firmly into place three thanks to the win. Although Atalanta will still be in action on Sunday. Together with Atalanta, AS Roma and Lazio, Milan is fighting for two tickets to the highest stage in Europe.

For Monza, doing extremely well in tenth place in the Italian league, it was the first defeat in eight league games.

In the fight for the Champions League spots, Internazionale, where Denzel Dumfries played the entire match, also did good business later Saturday night by beating Udinese 3-1 at home.

The 1-0 came off the foot of Romelu Lukaku, a penalty, his first since Aug. 13. The Belgian striker was out for a long time due to injury and struggled with his form.

It wasn’t until 15 minutes before time that the Giuseppe Meazza crowd could breathe a sigh of relief, when Henrikh Mkhitaryan had fired in the 2-1. Just before time, Lautaro Martinez decided the game with the third goal.

Tired it certainly was, Simeone Inzaghi’s vocal cords were tested as the Inter coach was constantly shouting along the line. He was regularly in the picture, and so was the red mark he had on his cheek. As all players and coaches in Serie A have this playing weekend.

With a red spot on their faces, attention is drawn to violence against women in Italy. An annual action in which players, coaches and referees participate.