AC Milan beat Inter Milan in derby to move top of Serie A

The champions of the last two seasons were separated by just one point heading into the contest, with Milan trailing Inter, but a brace and an assist from Rafael Leao on his 100th Serie A appearance fired the reigning champions to victory.

Leao's goals came either side of a strike from Olivier Giroud and, despite taking the lead in the game through Marcelo Brozovic and then reducing the deficit to one through Edin Dzeko, Inter could not avoid defeat.

The result means that Milan have now recorded back-to-back league derby wins for the first time since 2011, and their first derby triumph as the designated home team since 2016.

It was Milan who came close first too as Alessandro Bastoni nodded the ball against his own crossbar with Giroud lurking behind him.

Inter broke the deadlock shortly after the 20-minute mark when Brozovic slid his finish under the keeper following Joaquin Correa's through-ball, but that lead lasted only seven minutes before Leao opened his account for the game.

Giroud then put Milan in front with a smart finish from Leao's low cross, once again proving to be the scourge of Inter Milan following his brace the last time the two sides met in the league.

Leao was Inter's chief tormentor this time around, though, and two quickly became three when the striking duo reversed roles - this time Giroud playing in Leao, who burst into the box before firing a low strike into the bottom corner.

Inter refused to go down without a fight and reduced the deficit back to one midway through the second half when Dzeko converted Matteo Darmian's low cross into the box.

The visitors for the day then saw Mike Maignan deny Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu, while also seeing a penalty claim turned down by VAR in the final 20 minutes.

However, despite their pressure they could not find a breakthrough as Milan held on for a victory which takes them one point clear at the top of the table and two above fifth-placed Inter.