AC Milan's 3-1 derby victory over Inter on Halloween night has transformed the mood at Milanello, giving Ruben Amorim's side a significant boost after a turbulent week that had included a heavy 4-2 home defeat to Bologna. The win was built on the outstanding performance of Diego Moreira, the 22-year-old winger who was involved in all three goals and announced himself as one of the summer's shrewdest signings. Adrien Rabiot and Mario Gila also impressed on their return from muscular problems, underlining how much Milan missed them in the previous two league games.

The result carries real competitive weight. Milan sit fifth in Serie A with 21 points from 10 matches, four points outside the Champions League places, and the derby win prevents the gap to Inter from widening further at a critical stage of the season. Amorim, however, has been careful to temper expectations, telling reporters after the match that the club still needs time to build and that supporters should not expect an immediate title challenge.

Off the pitch, owner Gerry Cardinale confirmed before kick-off that a sporting director announcement is imminent, with Markus Krosche strongly linked after leaving Eintracht Frankfurt. The club is also working to extend contracts for several key players including Rabiot and Pulisic. Milan next host Ferencvaros in the Europa League on November 5, with Amorim expected to rotate heavily and hand minutes to several academy products.