Preview

Following the frustration within the Champions League, AC Milan shall be trying to reply with a press release within the Derby della Madonnina towards Inter. In reality, they might make it three out of three wins towards the Nerazzurri this season.

The defeat to Dinamo Zagreb mid-week seemingly sparked a response on the switch market, with Santiago Gimenez now secured, and the likes of Davide Calabria and Alvaro Morata are set to go away. For now, nevertheless, the crew should be totally centered on the derby.

Chatting with the media , Conceicao admitted that he’s been aggravated by ‘lies’ within the media in current weeks. Nonetheless, he made it clear that the gamers should focus solely on the sport, which is tough to realize.

Sport date: Sunday, February 2Kick-off time: 18:00 (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Daniele Chiffi VAR: Di Paolo)

Group information

The previous couple of days, as alluded to above, have been reasonably hectic as many gamers have been linked with departures. It has resulted in nice uncertainty with regard to the squad for Sunday’s conflict, seeing as Calabria and Morata have been confirmed on the outgoing entrance.

Who will even begin within the derby? This has been the primary query of the Milan followers in current days however because the state of affairs has calmed down somewhat, we now seemingly have a solution to this. Alessandro Florenzi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Emerson Royal are nonetheless injured, it ought to be famous, whereas Youssouf Fofana is suspended.

In defence, one among Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia ought to recuperate in time for the sport, with the Italian being the most probably. Nonetheless, as , he’s now the first candidate to companion up with Strahinja Pavlovic within the coronary heart of the defence.

Kyle Walker is predicted to make his debut for the crew, beginning at right-back, and he actually is aware of a factor or two about enjoying a high-stakes derby. His expertise will probably are available in very useful, the one fear is his bodily situation (though indications from Milanello have been constructive).

Additional up the pitch, changing Fofana shall be a troublesome one for Conceicao, even when the selection is fairly apparent: Ismael Bennacer. Yunus Musah will even get an opportunity for revenge after the horrorshow towards Dinamo Zagreb, whereas Tijjani Reijnders will full the midfield.

Tammy Abraham ought to be the beginning striker, with Morata heading for Galatasaray, and Gimenez ought to be watching on within the stands. The Englishman has multiple level to show after lacking a number of possibilities this season. What’s clear is that this sport, he can not afford to overlook.

Total, it’s just about what you’ll anticipate with all of the chaos of the January mercato ongoing. The crew is actually robust sufficient to beat Inter however as now we have seen far too many occasions this season, they might simply collapse as nicely.

Possible Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Musah, Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao.

The opponents

Following some preliminary doubts, with two attracts and the defeat to Milan within the first 5 video games, Inter have actually picked themselves again up and are actually flying. They’re unbeaten of their final 16 league video games and have dropped factors in simply three of those, which says so much.

Within the Champions League, Simone Inzaghi’s males managed to safe a top-eight end (4th) after shedding only one sport (6W, 1D). Having two fewer video games to play will definitely assist them within the Scudetto race, simply three factors behind league leaders Napoli with one sport in hand.

Tomorrow’s sport will undoubtedly be a chance for revenge as nicely, having misplaced the reverse fixture and the Supercoppa Italiana remaining towards Milan. Certainly, the derby dominance has fully shifted this season after years of nice success for the Nerazzurri.

“Everyone knows what the derby represents, it will likely be filled with pitfalls as a result of Milan are a fantastic crew with a number of high quality. We are going to want a fantastic Inter, aggressive and decided. For us, it is vitally vital” Inzaghi as we speak.

Francesco Acerbi and Hakan Calhanoglu have been two doubts for this sport attributable to accidents, however each have recovered and shall be accessible tomorrow (though maybe not from begin). The Turkish worldwide is the vital one to recuperate, as there isn’t a doubt that Inzaghi prefers him over Kristjan Asllani.

Lautaro Martinez has been in red-hot type recently, scoring in his final three league video games and recent off a hat-trick towards Monaco mid-week. He did discover the again of the online within the Supercoppa Italiana remaining, however not the reverse fixture so tomorrow is his likelihood to get a league derby objective.

Possible Inter XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu/Asllani, Mkhitaryan; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.

Face to face

Milan and Inter have confronted one another 225 occasions of their historical past, with 73 wins for the Rossoneri, 85 for Inter and 67 attracts. The Nerazzurri have a slight benefit, in different phrases, nevertheless it’s additionally clear that this fixture tends to be an in depth one.

Wanting at the moment, nevertheless, Inter have gone from a dominant interval to shedding the final two derbies in all competitions. Milan might make it three consecutive wins towards their rivals for the primary time since 2011, after they have been coached by Max Allegri.

The final time Milan have been the designated dwelling facet, however, wasn’t as enjoyable for the Rossoneri followers as Inter clinched the second star. Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram scores the objectives for the Nerazzurri, whereas Fikayo Tomori obtained a comfort objective.

Key details and stats

➤ AC Milan have received the final two Milan derbies towards Inter throughout all competitions, as many as within the earlier 13 (D2, L9). The Rossoneri might win three video games in a row towards the Nerazzurri for the primary time since 2011 underneath Massimiliano Allegri.

➤ Inter have received 70 matches and scored 259 objectives in Serie A towards AC Milan, greater than another facet within the competitors. Alternatively, the Nerazzurri have drawn 56 video games towards the Rossoneri, greater than towards another opponent within the Italian top-flight.

➤ Throughout the final seven Milan derbies in Serie A (since Simone Inzaghi has been on the Nerazzurri’s bench), the rating between Inter and AC Milan is three wins apiece and one draw. On this interval, the Rossoneri have at all times conceded within the first half, with the final time the Nerazzurri failed to attain earlier than half-time coming in February 2020.

➤ Inter have stored a clear sheet of their final seven away video games in Serie A, with an mixture rating of 23-0. Solely AC Milan (eight between November 1993 and March 1994) have achieved extra clear sheets in a row away from dwelling within the historical past of the competitors.

➤ Contemplating video games between the highest eight present sides within the Serie A desk, AC Milan have collected solely 5 factors (W1 D2 L4), fewer than another facet. Nonetheless, their sole such success got here towards Inter within the reverse fixture.

➤ Inter have scored 55 objectives in Serie A this season; the one occasions the Nerazzurri have netted extra after the primary 22 video games within the Italian top-flight have been in 1949-50 (64), 1950-51 (59) and 1960-61 (56).

➤ Sérgio Conceição (41 Serie A appearances with Inter, between 2001 and 2003) can turn into the second AC Milan supervisor within the final 35 years to win his first two Milan derbies towards the Nerazzurri throughout all competitions, after Massimiliano Allegri between 2010 and 2011.

➤ Tijjani Reijnders is the central midfielder with essentially the most objectives within the present Serie A season (six). Total, he has scored 9 objectives with AC Milan within the competitors and will turn into the fifth Dutch participant to attain not less than 10 objectives with the Rossoneri within the Italian top-flight, after Marco van Basten (90), Clarence Seedorf (47), Ruud Gullit (38) and Frank Rijkaard (16).

➤ Denzel Dumfries has scored in every of his final three Serie A appearances; just one defender has discovered the online in 4 video games in a row within the competitors within the three-points for a win period: Christian Terlizzi, with Palermo in September 2005.

➤ Lautaro Martínez has scored 9 objectives in Serie A this time period and will turn into the sixth participant to attain 10+ objectives with Inter in six Serie A unique seasons, after Giuseppe Meazza (9), Benito Lorenzi (9), Alessandro Altobelli (8), Roberto Boninsegna (6) and Christian Vieri (6). With a objective, he will even turn into the third Nerazzurri participant with not less than 10 towards Milan in all competitions, after Giuseppe Meazza (12) and Stefano Nyers (11).

Ones to look at

The brand new signing Kyle Walker shall be very attention-grabbing to see from begin tomorrow, making his debut in one of the crucial vital video games for the Rossoneri. He is aware of what it takes to play in massive video games, that’s for certain, and he has overwhelmed Inter earlier than.

Ismael Bennacer is one other one which Milan followers ought to preserve an in depth eye on tomorrow. With Youssoiuf Fofana suspended, that is the Algerian’s massive likelihood to show that he has recovered each health and high quality, following a sequence of accidents.

As for Inter, Stefan de Vrij has been criticised prior to now for his derby performances and it stays to be seen how he’ll cope tomorrow. Francesco Acerbi is undoubtedly a greater centre-back, however the Dutchman – on a superb day – can nonetheless be decisive,

It might be unusual to not point out Lautaro Martinez right here as nicely. He has been in great type recently and Milan should preserve him at bay. It received’t be straightforward, actually it is going to most likely be not possible, however not less than they will restrict his good angles and taking pictures alternatives.

Prediction

The mind says a win for Inter, contemplating how Milan have carried out recently, however that appeared just like the logical reply earlier than the Supercoppa remaining as nicely. Something can occur within the derby, that has been nicely established at this level, and Conceicao’s males will fancy themselves to bag one other derby win.

Whereas Milan clearly want the win for the standings, the sensation is that there’s extra strain on Inter. It might be their final likelihood to bag a derby win this season, relying on the result within the cups, and both manner three consecutive derby defeats will not be one thing they need.

Milan 1-1 Inter