AC Milan vs Inter: 7 of the greatest Derby della Madonnina contests of all time

The Derby della Madonnina is not only the biggest game in Inter and Milan's footballing calendars, it's a game between two of the biggest rivals in world football.

Both have dominated Serie A and the European stage at various points, though lately their glory years have disappeared into the shadows as Juventus have become the team to beat in Italian football.

But even though their trophy cabinets haven't been filling up like they used to, the prospect of the two clashing remains as mouthwatering as ever - particularly when you look back at some of the greatest games ever played between the two.

Here, 90min is here to do just that - with a trawl through the archives of some absolutely classic encounters.

1949/1950 - Inter 6-5 Milan

Not many of us will recall this extraordinary goal fest. 11 goals, 6-5 to Inter, and the Milan derby of 1949 remains the highest scoring of all-time.

I Nerazzurri were underdogs coming into this one, and found themselves 4-1 down at one point, seemingly down and out.

Could the I Rossoneri hold onto secure a resounding victory? Nope, as Inter clawed back to make it 4-4, before going 5-4 up. Milan equalised before Amadeo Amadei (what a name) completed his hat-trick at the death to seal an extraordinary 6-5 victory.

And breathe.

1984/1985 - Milan 2-1 Inter

Contextually, Milan's 2-1 victory over Inter in 1984 is perhaps one of the most significant of them all. I Rossoneri had reached rock bottom - they had been demoted to Serie B in 1980 after the Totonero match-fixing scandal, and suffered another relegation from Serie A in 1982.

Milan were living in their neighbours' shadow, and Inter hadn't lost a derby for five years. Well, that was soon to change, even after I Nerazzurri took a 1-0 lead in this particular encounter. It looked bleak for Milan until...

The equaliser. And then on the hour mark, up stepped Englishman Mark Hateley, who rose like a salmon to head home. 2-1 Milan, and a watershed win for the then underdogs.

2000/01 - Inter 0-6 Milan

Milan's comprehensive 6-0 win over Inter in 2001 remains the largest margin of victory in the derby's history. And, despite the fact that both sides were having resoundingly underwhelming seasons, one team decided to crank it up a notch.

Sadly, for those of a blue and black persuasion, it wasn't Inter. Prior to kick off, the sides were level on points. Battling it out at the top of the table? Nope - both were languishing in mid-table. Uninspiring stuff...

Until Milan stuck six past their rivals, that is. Andriy Shevchenko bagged a brace as I Rossoneri cantered to victory, while Inter, by contrast, suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history.

2004/05 - Inter 0-3 Milan

First, let's spare a moment to appreciate the above beauty. A truly timeless image that encapsulates the classic aspects of the Milan derby: tension, toxicity and wonderful competition.

In terms of this particular game, the pair had been pitted against each other in the 2004/05 Champions League quarter-final. Milan were 2-0 up after the first leg, and after Shevchenko's goal and Esteban Cambiasso's disallowed effort (for Inter, that is), all hell broke loose.

Flares were flung onto the pitch, Milan's Brazilian keeper, Dida, was struck, and the referee was forced to abandon the game. Consequently, I Rossoneri were awarded a 3-0 victory, while Inter were handed a hefty fine and ordered to play their following four European fixtures behind closed doors.

2005/06 - Inter 3-2 Milan

The derby rarely requires additional fuel to be added to the fire, but the duo's first meeting after that abandonment was always going to be a little spicier than normal.

Understandably, tensions were already running high and, if the stakes weren't high enough for Inter, they hadn't beaten Milan in their previous ten attempts.

Fortunately, the game didn't disappoint the pre-match hype, with Pro Evolution Soccer legend Adriano opening the scoring for I Nerazzurri. Shevchenko levelled it up, before Obamefi Martins and Jaap Stam exchanged goals to make it 2-2.

The drama wasn't over though, as Adriano headed home to secure a famous Inter win - cue scintillating scenes of celebration and wild exuberance.

2009/10 - Milan 0-4 Inter

Inter were ruthless, relentless, and ridiculously brilliant during their historic treble-winning year of 2010 - and those qualities were on full display in this Jose Mourinho masterclass.

Thiago Motta, Diego Milito, Maicon and Dejan Stankovic were all on target as Inter romped to a 4-0 victory, while Milan's resident maniac Gennaro Gattuso saw red.

Inter cantered to the Serie A title, secured the Coppa Italia, and concluded a remarkable campaign with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final - becoming the only Italian side to achieve such a feat.

2011/12 - Inter 4-2 Milan

Inter have mostly had the wood over Milan in recent years, and it was no exception when the two clashed in 2012 - a season after I Rossoneri had ended a run of five consecutive league titles for the men wearing blue.

The stakes were high yet again as AC were on the brink of recording their second successive Serie A crown, but Diego Milito clearly hadn't read the script. The Argentine fired home a memorable hat-trick to hand Inter a 4-2 win, in a game played on the penultimate day of the season.

Juve would go on to win the title, like they did for the remainder of the decade.