Top 5 Milan derbies of the 2000s

Ahead of Saturday's Supercoppa Italiana clash between AC Milan and Inter Milan, we take a look at some of the best matches between these two over the last decade.

AC Milan vs Inter Milan. The Rossoneri vs the Nerazzuri. Whichever half of Milan you belong to, one thing is for certain.
Fireworks are bound to occur everytime these two arch-rivals face off against one another.
From close fights to absolute thumpings, one thing the Milan derby is never short of is absolute entertainment and drama - as these five matches have proven over the last ten years.

2001: Milan 6-0 Inter

While it may have happened a decade ago, Inter fans still flinch at the memory of their defeat to Milan in a complete whitewash. Despite being equal on 44 points in the league standings going into the match, Milan's crushing six-goal win was the largest margin thus far in the history of the Derby della Madonnina.
Gianni Comandini set the ball rolling with a  brace in the first half, and Milan showed no signs of relenting in the second 45. An early goal by Federico Giunti was soon followed by a double from Andriy Shevchenko to make it 5-0. The wildly-imbalanced match was capped off with Serginho hammering the final nail in the coffin with a strike near the end.
By the final whistle, the Rossoneri had left their bitter rivals reeling in defeat.

2005: Milan 3-0 Inter (Match abandoned)

This infamous derby will be remembered as the match where the fanaticism of the Inter supporters hit boiling point.
Andriy Shevchenko's long-range strike gave Milan an early lead, before Inter's delight at equalising in the second half quickly turned into fury as referee Markus Merk controversially disallowed midfielder's Esteban Cambiasso's header for an alleged push.
After Merk booked Cambiasso for dissent, Inter fans retaliated by throwing flares, rubbish and toilet rolls into the pitch, striking Milan goalkeeper Dida.
The match suffered a 30 minute delay as firefighters removed the flares, but its restart was short-lived as the fans continued to pelt the pitch with debris. The match was abandoned, and Milan were awarded a 3-0 score. Inter were fined €200,000 and were hit with further punishment by being ordered to play their following UEFA Champions League game behind closer doors.

2005: Inter 3-2 Milan

With tensions riding high in the aftermath of their previous match, Inter were determined to break Milan's recent winning streak.
It was a tempestuous match, and with both sides chasing Juventus for the Serie A title, much was at stake.  Brazilian striker Adriano capitalised on a Alessandro Nesta handball to give the Nerazzuri the lead from the spot. Milan however remained undeterred, and Shevchenko levelled things after the Rossoneri were handed a penalty of their own.
Roberto Mancini's men hit back in the second half, with Obafemi Martins restoring Inter's advantage via an Adriano free-kick. However, celebrations were premature as Milan leveled the score again with defender Jaap Stam heading home.
And with just seconds remaining, Adriano nodded home the winner for Inter, sending the Inter fans into raptures as they rejoiced the end of their eight-game losing streak to Milan.

2006: Inter 4-3 Milan

In another nail-biting match, Milan put up a valiant fight against Inter, but eventually surrendered 4-3, with Dejan Stankovic the hero for the Nerazzuri with his one goal and two assists.
Shortly after setting up a header for Hernan Crespo in the 17th minute, Stankovic swiftly double Inter's lead by clinically dispatching a shot into the top-left corner. Inter added to their lead early in the second half, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring just two minutes in.
Veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf managed to pull one back for Milan, but the three-goal advantage was soon restored by Marco Materazzi, who then undid his good work by earning a second yellow for an illegal celebration.
Carlo Ancelotti's decision to bring on Alberto Gilardino proved effective as he pulled one back, before Milan cut Inter's lead to just a goal after a delicate lobby Kaka in injury time. Alas, for the Rossoneri, it proved to be a case of too little, too late.

2009: Inter 4-0 Milan

In a match that was double the joy for the Nerazurri fans, Inter not only celebrated a win which took them to the Serie A summit, but also a complete thumping of their arch-rivals to the tune of four goals.
Within the first 45, Inter had already secured a three-goal lead. Thiago Motta opened the scoring with a curling effort in the 30th minute, before Diego Milito doubled Inter's tally from the spot after Samuel Eto'o was hauled down by Gennaro Gattuso in the box.
Gattuso was shown a yellow card, and was soon left rueing his ill-discipline after an unnecessary foul on Stankovic saw him sent off five minutes from time, despite a substitute readying to take his place on the touchline. To add insult to injury, a right-back Maicon added a third to all but win the game for Inter before half-time.
With nothing to lose, then Milan coach Leonardo, who eventually defected to Inter, sent on Seedorf, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Massimo Ambrosini in a feeble attempt to regain the balance, but it was to no avail, as Inter proved unstoppable with Stankovic added the fourth and final goal from all of 25 yards out.