Matteo Gabbia headed home the winner in the closing minutes as AC Milan secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in Serie A on Sunday.

Defender Gabbia evaded his marker and found the top corner with a perfectly timed header from a free kick into the box in the 89th minute.

The victory lifted some of the pressure on Milan coach Paulo Fonseca following a disappointing start to the campaign, as Milan earned their first win in the Derby della Madonnina since 2022 following six consecutive defeats to Inter.

Milan had won just once in five games in all competitions to spark talk of a crisis, but Sunday’s victory moved them to eight points in Serie A from five games, level with Inter.

“I am so happy for us, for the fans. It was a pretty difficult moment where things weren’t going well, but I am sure this game will give us a real energy boost,” Gabbia told DAZN.

“It is our duty to give our all. There are negative moments in life and in careers, we must make sure that we don’t have regrets at the final whistle and that’s what happened today.

“We are always by the side of the coach, despite what is said outside.”

Christian Pulisic opened the scoring for Milan in the 10th minute with a solo effort. The American forward skilfully navigated through Inter’s defence, surged into the box, and fired a precise shot past goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Inter levelled in the 27th minute when captain Lautaro Martinez set up Federico Dimarco, who found space on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike into the back of the net.

Both Inter’s Sommer and Milan’s Mike Maignan made several crucial saves throughout the match until Gabbia snatched the winner.

“We had the wrong approach and weren’t enough of a team, which is rare for us,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. “We didn’t start either half with the right attitude.”

Milan began the match aggressively, testing Sommer on several occasions before Pulisic’s opener.

After Dimarco’s equaliser, Inter’s Marcus Thuram created an opportunity that was expertly denied by his fellow Frenchman Maignan, who was at full-stretch to palm the shot wide.

Milan pushed forward at the start of the second half, with Rafael Leao directing a header towards Sommer, who managed to get a hand on it to keep the ball out.

Inter fans had their hearts in their mouths moments later when the referee pointed to the penalty spot for a handball by Martinez.

However, a VAR check revealed the ball had struck the Argentine on the shoulder, with the referee reversing his decision.

Maignan was called into action again, saving a volley from Martinez and Sommer dived to parry a shot from Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders.

Yet just when it seemed that the outstanding displays from both goalkeepers would ensure the match ended in a draw, Reijnders took a free kick that found Gabbia, who clinched a crucial victory for Milan.