Christian Pulisic ended up being the hero for AC Milan in an important Derby della Madonnina win over Inter on Sunday, pushing the Rossoneri straight into the Champions League qualification locations. With the slim 1-0 victory in Serie A, the USMNT star additionally helped Luka Modrić prolong a formidable profession milestone in derby matches.
Modrić was showing in his first Milan derby, this time on Matchday 12, in a conflict the place Inter managed a lot of the play however didn’t create any clear probabilities. The breakthrough arrived within the 54th minute, when Pulisic pounced on a rebound spilled by goalkeeper Yann Sommer after Alexis Saelemaekers fired a low, highly effective shot, slotting residence the one aim of the evening.
With the win over Inter, Luka Modrić has now prolonged his unbeaten streak in derby debuts. Over his profession, the 40-year-old midfielder has featured in derby matches in Croatia, England, Spain, and now Italy, and has but to lose his first rivalry conflict in any nation, with AC Milan persevering with that development.
Inter marked the tenth match by which Modrić has accomplished the total 90 minutes, having now featured in 13 video games for the Rossoneri. Even with only one aim and two assists, his affect in his first Serie A season has been important, rapidly establishing him as one of many league’s standout performers.
Luka Modric of AC Milan competes for the ball with Nicolo’ Barella of FC Internazionale.
Luka Modrić’s unbeaten file in derby debuts
Modrić made his skilled debut with Bosnian facet H.Š.Ok. Zrinjski Mostar on August 3, 2003, starting a profession crammed with success, not solely in trophies, however in derby fixtures as effectively. His first derby debut, nevertheless, got here later when he returned to Dinamo Zagreb, the membership that developed him.
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Modrić took half within the Vječni derbi (the Everlasting Derby) between Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Break up. The match, a part of the 2005–06 Croatian top-flight season on Matchday 7, noticed the midfielder play 59 minutes. He struggled to seek out clear scoring probabilities, and the sport led to a scoreless draw.
After shifting to England with Tottenham Hotspur, Modrić’s first London derby got here in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Newly arrived from Dinamo Zagreb, he performed the total 90 minutes within the Matchday 3 matchup of the 2008–09 Premier League season, which as soon as once more led to a draw, this time 1-1.
Modrić then featured in one other main rivalry: the North London Derby in opposition to Arsenal, performed on Matchday 10 of that very same Premier League marketing campaign. Spurs trailed 4-2 within the 88th minute however mounted a surprising comeback, scoring within the 89th minute earlier than Modrić assisted Aaron Lennon’s equalizer within the 90+4, one other unbeaten derby debut for the Croatian star.
Luka Modric of Tottenham Hotspur in his first North London derby.
The streak continued when he joined Actual Madrid, the place he confronted Atlético Madrid, the opponent he would meet most frequently in his profession with 42 whole clashes. In his first Madrid derby, Modrić got here off the bench within the 87th minute to switch Mesut Özil and helped see out a 2-0 win on Matchday 14 of the 2012–13 La Liga season, his first derby debut victory earlier than repeating the feat with AC Milan in opposition to Inter.
