The San Siro is set to host another thrilling chapter in the storied rivalry between AC Milan and Inter Milan this Sunday. This highly anticipated Derby della Madonnina comes just a month after their dramatic Supercoppa Italiana final in Saudi Arabia, where AC Milan emerged victorious in a five-goal spectacle.
Inter Milan, the reigning Serie A champions, find themselves in a strong position, sitting just three points behind league leaders Napoli. The Nerazzurri have been in scintillating form, particularly in their away matches, where they’ve kept clean sheets in their last seven league games, scoring an impressive 23 goals in the process.
AC Milan, on the other hand, have struggled to maintain consistency this season. Despite their recent Supercoppa triumph, the Rossoneri find themselves 16 points adrift of their city rivals in the Serie A standings. However, they’ve shown resilience under new manager Sergio Conceicao, winning two of the last three encounters against Inter across all competitions.
Inter Milan have been firing on all cylinders, showcasing their prowess in both domestic and European competitions. Their recent 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League, featuring a hat-trick from captain Lautaro Martinez, underlines their current form. In Serie A, they’ve been equally impressive, with a 4-0 thrashing of Lecce in their last league outing.
AC Milan’s form has been more erratic. While they’ve shown flashes of brilliance, such as their comeback victory against Parma and a win over Girona in the Champions League, they’ve also suffered setbacks. A recent 2-0 loss to Juventus and a 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb have highlighted their inconsistency.
For Inter, all eyes will be on Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine striker has been in phenomenal form, already netting nine league goals this season. His partnership with Marcus Thuram up front has been a cornerstone of Inter’s attacking prowess. On the right flank, Denzel Dumfries has been a revelation, scoring in each of his last three Serie A appearances.
AC Milan will look to Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic to provide the creative spark in attack. The potential debut of new signing Kyle Walker at right-back could also be a game-changer for the Rossoneri’s defensive stability.
Team News
Inter Milan have minor fitness concerns with Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi, but both might be available for selection. Joaquin Correa remains the only confirmed absentee.
AC Milan face more significant selection issues. Youssouf Fofana is suspended, while injuries rule out Malick Thiaw, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alessandro Florenzi. The availability of new signing Kyle Walker will be a key decision for Conceicao.
Expected Starting XIs
AC Milan: Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Bennacer, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham
Inter Milan: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Match Prediction
Given Inter’s impressive form and AC Milan’s inconsistency, the Nerazzurri enter this derby as favourites. Inter’s potent attack, led by the in-form Martinez, coupled with their solid defensive record, gives them a significant edge. However, the unpredictable nature of derby matches and AC Milan’s recent success against their rivals means this clash could go either way.
Expect a high-intensity, goal-filled encounter, with Inter’s superior form likely to see them through. A 3-1 victory for Inter Milan seems a plausible outcome, but in a derby of this magnitude, anything can happen.
Prediction: Inter 3-1 Milan
