Following the frustration within the Champions League, AC Milan will probably be trying to reply with a press release within the Derby della Madonnina towards Inter. In actual fact, they may 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 depart. For now, nevertheless, the group should be absolutely targeted on the derby.
Chatting with the media , Conceicao admitted that he’s been irritated by ‘lies’ within the media in latest weeks. Nevertheless, he made it clear that the gamers should focus solely on the sport, which is tough to attain.
Recreation date: Sunday, February 2Kick-off time: 18:00 (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Daniele Chiffi VAR: Di Paolo)
Workforce information
The previous few 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 latest days however because the scenario has calmed down a bit, we now seemingly have a solution to this. Alessandro Florenzi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Emerson Royal are nonetheless injured, it needs to be famous, whereas Youssouf Fofana is suspended.
In defence, certainly one of Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia ought to get better in time for the sport, with the Italian being the more than likely. Nevertheless, as , he’s now the first candidate to accomplice up with Strahinja Pavlovic within the coronary heart of the defence.
Kyle Walker is predicted to make his debut for the group, beginning at right-back, and he actually is aware of a factor or two about taking part in a high-stakes derby. His expertise will probably are available very useful, the one fear is his bodily situation (though indications from Milanello have been constructive).
Additional up the pitch, changing Fofana will probably 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 needs to be the beginning striker, with Morata heading for Galatasaray, and Gimenez needs to be watching on within the stands. The Englishman has multiple level to show after lacking a number of probabilities this season. What’s clear is that this sport, he can’t afford to overlook.
Total, it’s just about what you’d anticipate with all of the chaos of the January mercato ongoing. The group is actually sturdy sufficient to beat Inter however as we’ve seen far too many occasions this season, they may simply collapse as effectively.
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 quite a bit.
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 possibility for revenge as effectively, having misplaced the reverse fixture and the Supercoppa Italiana ultimate towards Milan. Certainly, the derby dominance has utterly shifted this season after years of nice success for the Nerazzurri.
“Everyone knows what the derby represents, will probably be stuffed with pitfalls as a result of Milan are an ideal group with quite a lot of high quality. We are going to want an ideal Inter, aggressive and decided. For us, it is vitally essential” Inzaghi in the present day.
Francesco Acerbi and Hakan Calhanoglu have been two doubts for this sport as a result of accidents, however each have recovered and will probably be accessible tomorrow (though maybe not from begin). The Turkish worldwide is the essential one to get better, as there is no such thing as a doubt that Inzaghi prefers him over Kristjan Asllani.
Lautaro Martinez has been in red-hot kind recently, scoring in his final three league video games and contemporary off a hat-trick towards Monaco mid-week. He did discover the again of the online within the Supercoppa Italiana ultimate, however not the reverse fixture so tomorrow is his likelihood to get a league derby purpose.
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.
Trying at present, nevertheless, Inter have gone from a dominant interval to shedding the final two derbies in all competitions. Milan may make it three consecutive wins towards their rivals for the primary time since 2011, once they have been coached by Max Allegri.
The final time Milan have been the designated residence aspect, however, wasn’t as enjoyable for the Rossoneri followers as Inter clinched the second star. Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram scores the targets for the Nerazzurri, whereas Fikayo Tomori received a comfort purpose.
Key info and stats
➤ AC Milan have gained the final two Milan derbies towards Inter throughout all competitions, as many as within the earlier 13 (D2, L9). The Rossoneri may win three video games in a row towards the Nerazzurri for the primary time since 2011 below Massimiliano Allegri.
➤ Inter have gained 70 matches and scored 259 targets in Serie A towards AC Milan, greater than some other aspect within the competitors. Alternatively, the Nerazzurri have drawn 56 video games towards the Rossoneri, greater than towards some other 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 saved 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 residence 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 some other aspect. Nevertheless, their sole such success got here towards Inter within the reverse fixture.
➤ Inter have scored 55 targets 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 grow to be 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 targets within the present Serie A season (six). Total, he has scored 9 targets with AC Milan within the competitors and will grow to be the fifth Dutch participant to attain a minimum of 10 targets 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 targets in Serie A this time period and will grow to be the sixth participant to attain 10+ targets 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 purpose, he will even grow to be the third Nerazzurri participant with a minimum of 10 towards Milan in all competitions, after Giuseppe Meazza (12) and Stefano Nyers (11).
Ones to look at
The brand new signing Kyle Walker will probably be very attention-grabbing to see from begin tomorrow, making his debut in one of the essential video games for the Rossoneri. He is aware of what it takes to play in large video games, that’s for certain, and he has crushed Inter earlier than.
Ismael Bennacer is one other one which Milan followers ought to hold an in depth eye on tomorrow. With Youssoiuf Fofana suspended, that is the Algerian’s large likelihood to show that he has recovered each health and high quality, following a collection of accidents.
As for Inter, Stefan de Vrij has been criticised previously 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 effectively. He has been in great kind recently and Milan should hold him at bay. It gained’t be straightforward, in reality it can most likely be unimaginable, however a minimum of 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 ultimate as effectively. Something can occur within the derby, that has been effectively 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 may very well be their final likelihood to bag a derby win this season, relying on the result within the cups, and both means three consecutive derby defeats will not be one thing they need.
Milan 1-1 Inter