Milan--Inter Milan were denied a second-half penalty and AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez performed heroics as an entertaining 'Derby della Madonnina' finished scoreless on Sunday.
Inter, sitting a point behind Milan in 10th place as both teams continue their battle for a place in Europe, completely dominated an entertaining second half at a packed San Siro.
But despite the ball coming off the hand of Milan defender Luca Antonelli after a close-range first-time shot from Brazilian midfielder Hernanes, Roberto Mancini's men were forced to settle for a share of the points.
Mancini left both Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench, with Ivory Coast teenager Assane Gnoukouri making his first derby start on the right of a three-man midfield alongside Gary Medel and Mateo Kovacic.
Milan started without Japan international Keisuke Honda with striker Mattia Destro also on the bench following an injury worry last week that meant Suso started up front alongside Jeremy Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura.
With both sides in danger of missing out on Europe next season, the hosts started at breakneck speed before Milan settled into their game halfway through.
Early on, Gnoukouri did well to set up Rodrigo Palacio for a drive that was blocked and moments later Hernanes unleashed a drive from 35 metres that required a two-handed flying save from Lopez to push clear of the top corner.
At the other end, Menez controlled well while under pressure from Nemanja Vidic and Andrea Ranocchia but there were no takers for the Frenchman's drive across the goalmouth.
When Menez swept the ball across to Suso minutes later, right-back Ignazio Abate provided the dummy for the Spaniard to unleash a drive that forced Samir Handanovic into a diving save.
Milan had the ball in the net shortly after the half hour when Alex bundled home amid a goalmouth melee following a dubious free kick on the right flank, but it was immediately chalked off for offside.
On the stroke of half-time Handanovic dived low to push out Menez's cross after the Frenchman had been set up to the right of goal by Abate.
AFP
