Inter Milan claimed local bragging rights in their meeting with AC Milan on Sunday by securing a 2-1 win.
Beckham hobbles off as Milan come up short against neighbours
Inter Milan claimed local bragging rights in their meeting with AC Milan on Sunday by securing a 2-1 win.
Adriano and Dejan Stankovic struck for Jose Mourinho's men, ensuring that an Alexandre Pato effort was nothing more than a consolation.
Inter are now nine points clear of closest rivals Juventus in the race for the Serie A title, while AC Milan now find themselves 11 points adrift of their city rivals.
Milan had started the brighter during the crunch clash but fell behind when Adriano bundled home just shy of the half-hour mark.
The Brazilian appeared to use his arm to divert the ball past Christian Abbiati, but the goal stood.
Stankovic then doubled the 'home' side's advantage two minutes before the interval when he latched onto a Zlatan Ibrahimovic through-ball and fired into the bottom corner.
Hope
Pato gave Milan a glimmer of hope when he netted with 20 minutes remaining, but that would be as good as it got for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Worryingly for Milan, David Beckham had already limped from the field by the time they found a lifeline.
The England international was forced off after 58 minutes with a slight strain and appears to be facing a spell on the sidelines as the ongoing debate regarding his proposed move from LA Galaxy lingers on.
Beckham's replacement Filippo Inzaghi looked lively upon his introduction and would have been the hero of the day were it not for the linesman's flag.
The veteran striker thought he had plundered an equaliser when he rifled into the roof of the net on 78 minutes, but he was adjudged to have strayed offside.
While the injury to Beckham is likely to steal the headlines in the morning, it is worth noting that Sunday's encounter could be the last time Milan legend Paolo Maldini graces the derby should the veteran defender decide to call time on his illustrious career at the end of the current campaign.
