Inter-Milan is a Serie A Week 21 match played on Sunday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
It was exactly a year ago that the Milan game put three vital points on the line for the Scudetto, and Milan fans can still recall Giroud’s double that shattered the Nerazzurri’s confidence and gave the Rossoneri a run for their money. A year later many things have changed and this derby could be decisive, but not for the tricol
Both Inter and AC Milan are now within striking distance of Napoli, who – before this day’s action – are thirteen points ahead of the Nerazzurri and even fifteen ahead of Stefano Pioli’s men. Never say never when it comes to football, but it is unrealistic at the moment to imagine that the two Milanese teams will somehow catch up with the partenopei. In any case, Inter have been better since the start of the season, and the confirmation also came from the crushing victory of Simone Inzaghi’s men in the dry match in Riyadh that awarded the Italian Super Cup. Last 18 January, in Saudi Arabia, Lautaro Martinez and his team-mates feasted (3-0) on a Milan side too bad to be true, taking home the trophy.
Milan, nightmare numbers in 2023
LThat defeat had repercussions for the Rossoneri: Milan also appeared to be in disarray against Lazio and Sassuolo in the league, making two epocalyptal blunders: first the 4-0 defeat at the Olimpico, then the 5-2 loss to the Emiliani at the San Siro.
An unrecognisable, bewildered team that seems to have lost that ‘fire’ that allowed them to win the Scudetto against all odds. The defence is making water from all sides – nine goals conceded between Lazio and Sassuolo, which become 14 in total if we also consider the two previous matches against Inter and Lecce – and the Emilian coach himself is struggling to find solutions. The risk is that Milan may now plummet, even missing out on qualification for the next Champions League, given that teams like Lazio, Roma and Atalanta are all there, attached to the reigning Italian champions.
Inter have two more points than their cousins, who, unlike their cousins, have immediately bounced back after missteps against Monza and Empoli. Last Saturday’s comeback victory over Cremonese (1-2), and this week Inzaghi’s team beat Atalanta 1-0 to reach the semi-final of the Coppa Italia, where they will face Juventus. Darmian, who took the place of former captain Skriniar, scored the winning goal, and the Slovakian revealed he had signed a pre-signing deal with Psg.
Inter-Milan: the latest line-up news
Inzaghi in the pre-match conference closed the Skriniar case: the player will give his all until the end of the season, despite no longer wearing the captain’s armband. Against AC Milan he will return after his disqualification but it will not be the only return. The Nerazzurri coach could also have Brozovic back, ready to return against the Rossoneri, while Darmian and Dumfries are competing for a shirt on the right flank. There will also be a ballot in attack, where Lukaku will challenge one of Lautaro Martinez and Dzeko. Mkhitaryan will return to the bench.
In the week Pioli welcomed Ibrahimovic back to training, but it will take time to see the Swede back on the pitch. There are still numerous absences for the Rossoneri coach: from goalkeeper Maignan to Florenzi, via Bennacer and Tomori. Replenishing the midfield line is more of a priority than a necessity, which is why the Emilia coach is likely to switch to a 4-3-3, with Messias, Tonali and Krunic in the midfield. Leao, Giroud and Saelemaekers will play in the offensive trident instead.
The prediction
Inter are the favourites for this derby and it couldn’t be otherwise in light of Milan’s recent performance, which has appeared in total disarray. There is no such thing as a written derby, however, and that’s why we assume a proud reaction from the Rossoneri, who will use an unusual three-man midfield and will do everything they can to stay afloat and avoid further setbacks, finding the way of the goal on at least one occasion. In short, it promises to be the usual tight and balanced derby we have admired in recent seasons, in which the total number of goals will be at least three.
The probable line-ups of Inter-Milan
- INTER (3-5-2): Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku.
- MILAN (4-3-3): Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Kjaer, Hernandez; Messias, Tonali, Krunic; Saelemaekers, Giroud, Leao.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1