Reports suggested that Milan coach Fonseca was under enormous pressure ahead of the game after just four games in the Serie A season following a disappointing start.

The win over Venezia last weekend gave him some breathing room, but a heavy defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League followed shortly after, increasing the tension ahead of the match against their city rivals.

But Fonseca’s team reacted brilliantly and dominated the early stages with great enthusiasm.

Pulisic surged to collect a bouncing ball from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, burst through the heart of the Inter defence and then fired past Sommer to give Milan a deserved lead.

Inter came back and equalised after a nice exchange between Martinez and Dimarco, which ended with the latter firing a clear low shot into the bottom corner.

But Milan reacted again and parried a header from Rafael Leao well, so that the team started the second half promisingly.

Inter remained dangerous and Mike Maignan had to parry a clever volley from Martinez, but as the game went on, Milan became more dangerous.

Leao was denied again by Sommer after Abraham passed him home at the end of a quick counter-attack before the English striker missed in what seemed to be the last big chance.

But Gabbia had other plans and despite all the turmoil after a slow start, Fonseca’s team are now in seventh place – Inter are only ahead of them on goal difference.