Coming on the back of a hundred per cent start to the season, Inter and Milan will lock horns tomorrow in the first Milan derby of the new campaign to establish a hold over the top spot in the league standings.
Inter approach this match with a favourable recent record against Milan, winning their last four meetings across all competitions without conceding a goal. The Nerazzurri have scored in the previous 11 home derbies but never in consecutive 12 matches. Tomorrow, they have an opportunity to do so.
Simone Inzaghi’s men are yet to concede a goal this season and it will be a tough job for them to extend that run by holding off their neighbourhood rivals, who too have started the season eloquently. Inter were good value for their performance against Fiorentina in their last game as Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and new arrival Marcus Thuram were all on the score sheet to post a 4-0 win over the Viola.
Meanwhile, Milan approach this match on the back of a 2-1 victory against top-four contenders Roma in their previous match. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring through a penalty strike in the 9th minute and Rafael Leao doubled the Rossoneri’s advantage in the 48th minute. While the visitors suffered a blow in the 61st minute with Fikayo Tomori being sent off, they were able to successfully wave off the Giallorossi’s pressure. Leonardo Spinazzola pulled one back for the hosts but it wasn’t enough and Milan grabbed the three points.
Stefano Pioli’s men have won three of the last six derbies against Inter and despite a dip in their recent form against their arch-rivals, Milan still hold a considerable advantage over the Nerazzurri in performance. The Rossoneri kick off their Champions League from next week against Newcastle United and a win against their neighbourhood rivals would set the squad mood for the good before heading into the European competition.
Results from their last five matches across all competitions:
Inter:
W W W W W
Milan:
W W W W L
Team News
Simone Inzaghi will only miss the likes of Francesco Acerbi and Juan Cuadrado for the match but they are likely to start on the bench.
Davide Frattesi’s exploits during the international break might get him the start tomorrow. Lautaro Martinez will aim to move forward from this tally of eight goals scored against Milan.
As for Milan, Stefano Pioli is set to field a similar line-up from their last match against Roma. Fikayo Tomori will be unavailable as he must serve a suspension for being sent off against the Giallorossi.
Pierre Kalulu’s injury will mean that Simon Kjaer will partner with Malick Thiaw as centre-backs.
Predicted XIs
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Darmian, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Milan (4-3-3): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Kjaer, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Reijnders; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao
Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN
