A second-half header from Nigel De Jong secured a 1-0 derby win for AC Milan over Inter Milan for the first time in three years on Sunday.
Milan, sitting 10th overnight, hosted Inter at their shared San Siro ground desperate for three points to maintain their Europa League bid following wins earlier in the day by direct rivals Torino and Parma.
The hosts dominated an opening half in which Kaka struck the bar with a superb half-volley, but it took De Jong’s bullet header from a Mario Balotelli free kick in the 65th minute to finally spark the game into life.
Milan scored their first derby win since April 2011, when coach Clarence Seedorf still played at the club, to move up to provisional eighth ahead of Verona’s visit to Lazio on Monday.
“We said we were going to fight till the death and although a lot of teams are still in contention, we took an important step tonight,” said Seedorf.
“Inter played well but I think we just had the competitive edge and it was really nice to see the lads pull together and fight.”
Inter remain fifth but their Europa League spot is not yet secure.
Coach Walter Mazzarri lamented his side’s limpid approach to the game.
“We simply didn’t play well,” said Mazzarri. “We took the pitch knowing we needed to win but we just didn’t have any fighting spirit. I don’t like how we played at all.”
Milan had the best of the opening exchanges although after a half-chance from distance by Adel Taarabt went astray Inter came close to breaking the deadlock.
Rodrigo Palacio skewed a shot wide of Christian Abbiati’s upright after being sent through by Jonathan and then Yuto Nagatomo danced past two defenders at the left byline before delivering low for Palacio, with Abbiati down quick to block at his near post.
Milan almost had the breakthrough when Taarabt threaded a superb ball through the Inter defence for Paolo De Sciglio, but the right back’s first-timer was into the side-netting.
De Jong was giving a battling performance in midfield and after stealing possession, set up Balotelli only for the striker to shoot wide from distance.
From an innocuous looking long ball from midfield on 41 minutes, Kaka held off two defenders to send a half-volley over Samir Handanovic and off the bar.
Kaka then saw his speculative angled shot from 20 metres fly just wide and the Brazilian then held off Esteban Cambiasso to send Taarabt clear on the right.
Although the Moroccan’s cross missed Balotelli, Kaka came in late to send a first-timer just over.
Inter shaded the start to the second half with Matteo Kovacic a constant threat around the area, the Croatian unleashing one drive that was blocked by teammate Mauro Icardi.
Milan came close again on the hour when Phillipe Mexes headed just wide from Kaka’s corner.
Eyebrows were raised minutes later when Balotelli stepped up to take an indirect free kick from a tight angle after Taarabt had been fouled.
But in a crowded area De Jong somehow found space to squeeze through and send a powerful header past Handanovic.
The goal sparked the match into life and moments later Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio broke free only to balloon his effort over.
At the other end a close-range shot from Kaka after the Brazilian had chested across down met traffic.
Milan had the momentum and after Balotelli sent a delightful flick into the box the hosts had the ball in the net when the striker’s drive from distance deflected off Giampaolo Pazzini, who had replaced Kaka on 76 minutes.
Inter coach Walter Mazzarri sent Riccardo Alvarez, Fredy Guarin and Diego Milito on in the dying minutes.
Inter had a brief moment of hope when Pazzini gave away a free kick in the first minute of injury time, but Milito sent a glancing header wide.
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
