Inter and Milan: Two Rivals Who Share a Stadium

Inter and Milan are the eternal rivals in the city of Milan, Italy. Interestingly, they use the same stadium when they play locally.
Inter and Milan: Two Rivals Who Share a Stadium

Last update: 23 July, 2020

San Siro or Giuseppe Meazza? Blue and black or red and black? It all depends on who is local. Inter and Milan are one of the curious cases in soccer, being two rivals who share a stadium in their hometown. We’ll tell you all about it in this article!

Get to know the stadium in Milan

Every weekend, this stadium changes its name and dresses in different colors. Depending on which team plays, you could go to Giuseppe Meazza or San Siro. This sports venue in the Italian city of Milan is the home of the most important two Milanese teams. They are AC Milan and FC Internazionale (known as Inter).

This stadium- considered category four and elite by UEFA- was inaugurated in September 1926 and is the largest in Italy. In fact, it has the capacity to hold more than 80,000 spectators.

The initiative to build it was from the president of the Rossoneri– red and black-, Piero Pirelli and its first name was Nuovo Stadio Calcistico San Siro. As you probably expected, it was inaugurated with a Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter.

Until 1945, AC Milan owned it. However, later on, the municipal government took it. They decided to use it for local parties of the Red and Blacks. Two years later, Inter began to share it.

In 1980, it was renamed Giuseppe Meazza, in honor of the former player of both teams and twice world champion with the Italian national team. Other soccer players who have worn both jerseys were Enrico Candiani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Giuseppe Meazza stadium.

Games at the 1934 World Cup (first round, quarterfinals, and semifinals) and the 1990 World Cup (first round, eighth-finals, and quarterfinals) were played at Meazza- San Siro.

Also, it hosted Euro 1980 and four UEFA Champions League finals. Here, Inter, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid won.

Inter and Milan: the duel of the Madonnina

The Milan or Madonnina Derby- in honor of the Statue of the Assumption of the Virgin located in the local cathedral- is the name for when Inter and Milan play each other.

Internazionale is a team related to Milan’s upper class. On the other hand, AC Milan represents the working class. They met for the first time in a friendly match in 1908. However, now they have more than 200 games against each other. Inter won 81, Milan 76, and the remaining 67 tied.

Also, Inter’s biggest win happened in February 1910 when they won 5-0. A year later, Milan would defeat their rival 6-3.

On November 6, 1949, the most shouting between both teams occurred, when Inter beat Milan 6-5… there were eleven goals! Twenty years later, the Rossoneri would take revenge, winning 6-4.

A soccer player on the field.

The rivalry between Inter and Milan began in the early 20th century. Back then, the Rossoneri only signed Italian players, and the Nerazzurri accepted outsiders. From the first games, everyone in Milan watched. Now, this is one of the most anticipated matches of Series A in Italy.

Twice, this match meant the decision of a title. In fact, in both cases, Milan won. In the first game from the 1976-1977 season, they beat their rival 2-0. Later, in 2011, they won 2-1. However, the interesting fact is that the match didn’t take place at the San Siro- Giuseppe Meazza, but at the Beijing National Stadium.


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