The most beautiful choreographies of the Milan derbies

Passion can be expressed in several ways. Many communicate it in words, whether in written or oral form, while others take to the visual side. Tifos are the essence of football fandom, providing a rich atmosphere and enunciating the importance of a specific game. In Italy, two clubs above all stand out for their ability to create breathtaking tifos time and time again: Inter and AC Milan. Whether it is for a derby against one another, an important league game, or a magical Champions League night, Inter and Milan fans are always ready to shock the football world and overwhelm their opponents with stunning visual displays of their passion.

This season, especially against Benfica and Napoli, we saw that the Milanese tifo tradition has gone nowhere. The upcoming Champions League semifinal match-up will see Inter and Milan go head-to-head not only for access to this year’s final, but also to determine, once and for all, who has the best tifos among Europe’s élite. So, in preparation for this artistic battle that will rage in the stands of the San Siro on May 10th and May 16th, let’s take a look at the best derby della Madonnina tifos in recent times.

May 6th, 2012

“Ti te dominet Milan” - “you rule Milan”. A full-fledged homage paid to the Madonnina, honoring the statue’s symbolic importance for the city and its most famous football contest. In this case, we see Inter fans trading banter and teasing for true culture and arts, propelling this tifo in history as a real classic.

January 31st, 2016

This tifo is nothing short of stunning, especially when you dissect the symbolism and get to the true meaning. The illustration in question depicts English striker Mark Hateley jumping over Fulvio Collovati to score the winning header in a 1984 derby. The raw athleticism and sheer force of the goal cemented it as one of the most iconic in Milan derby history, and coupled with the writing “Let’s crush them” it becomes a direct invitation for the AC Milan players to do just that, crush their opponents. 

November 21st, 2016

For Silvio Berlusconi’s last derby as the club’s president, the ultras prepared an immense illustration of a famous image that depicts il Cavaliere with all of the international trophies Milan won under his presidency. Mainly regarded as a big, final thank you to everything Berlusconi did for the club, this tifo also may have helped with teasing towards Inter fans and their lack of European and international success in comparison to AC Milan.

September 21st, 2019

In this case, AC Milan fans really pulled out all of their stops to impose themselves as masters of tifo art. Not only did they make intelligent use of lighting to create a unique atmosphere, but the graphic itself is remarkable. Depicted, Milan’s patron saint St. Ambrose is seen in a fully red robe with some black accents and a Rossonero mitre hat, stomping on a Biscione snake, Inter’s main symbol. Beside the tifo, two writings also appear:

“The legend tells a story of fantasy and imagination, but the reality tells us that even the patron fell into temptation” 

And just under St. Ambrose:

“Faith to the Devil”

February 6th, 2023

The very last derby simply blessed us with this tifo. The details and the colors are truly spectacular, the size is unbelievable, and the angry expression of the Biscione makes it intimidating beyond words. If there is someone who knows how to scare the opposing team, in this case, it is Inter fans.

The Champions League matches

Milan fans are proud of their history. There is constant allusion to the great past, especially in terms of European football. When it comes to international trophies, AC Milan is far superior to Inter, with the so-called “Champions League DNA” that Rossoneri fans often refer to. It is not far-fetched, in fact, to posit that for the first leg of this year’s semi-final match up, the Curva Sud will attempt to impose this superiority with a tifo displaying or boasting Milan’s glorious international history. It also would not be the first time, as for the famous 2002-2003 Champions League semi-final showdown against Inter, the Milan tifo read “In Italia, in Europa, ovunque…” right under an enormous “MILAN” writing. We can definitely expect references to European glory come May 10th, on the stands of the legendary Curva Sud of Stadio San Siro.

As for Inter, they are much more inclined to celebrate themselves or encourage their team. For them, tifos are more about truly displaying their passion and support for the club’s values. In the second leg of the 2004-2005 Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan, for example, their tifo encouraged the Inter players with a writing that read “Objective: destroy the red and black army and conquer Europe”, and right below, in big letters “INTER”. So for them, it is more about inciting their team and scaring the opposition, rather than bragging about trophies or advocating for superiority over their rivals. Expect a more artistic approach from the Nerazzurri faithful, something in line with Milanese or Inter culture that will instill great pride in Inzaghi’s boys and maybe push them towards the Istanbul final.

A great spectacle awaits, both on the pitch and in the stands.