Another day and another season passes seemingly unnoticed in Italy. Juventus’ unexpected 2-1 win over Inter in the Derby d’Italia at the start of December was soon just a memory, followed as it was with only two wins from their next six matches – the most painful of those being the horrific 3-0 capitulation at home to AC Milan. At the time of writing they find themselves 12 points off the top of Serie A, so must surely be considered out of the title race.

Inter meanwhile appear to be on course for yet another league title, with an eight point cushion over neighbours Milan, who themselves have been on an impressive streak. The date to remember is 24th January, when both will lock horns in the Milan derby at the San Siro.

Up a Notch

While the imagined nepotism towards Inter in the post-calciopoli landscape has not ceased this year, the Beneamata have shrugged off most of these assertions by off-loading star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter’s success in previous years was heavily down to the super Swede, and the feeling around the Giuseppe Meazza is that Massimo Moratti’s men were able to strike back at their detractors by yet again producing a formidable domestic display, without Ibrahimovic.

Indeed, Inter have witnessed a bloom across the pitch this year. Brazil captain Lucio has made himself at home after arriving from Bayern Munich in the summer, commanding the backline and confirming the danger he poses at set-pieces. Also in defence Walter Samuel is beginning to look as solid as in his old Roma days, a stint which earned him the nickname “the wall”, and Christian Chivu looks as relaxed on the left as he was in the centre.

In midfield, Wesley Sneijder is in line to be soon declared Serie A’s signing of the summer, finding his feet perfectly behind the forwards. The Dutchman has become the team’s true focal point, distributing passes effectively across the pitch, in a similar way to Xavi for Barcelona, or Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid.

Up front, Samuel Eto’o has struck up a wonderful understanding with fellow summer recruit Diego Milto, the pair having bagged 19 of the Nerazzurri’s 41 goals at the time of writing. The duo can reasonably be considered one of Europe’s deadliest striking partnerships, with success based on a highly complementary style of play.

All signs are pointing towards a blue Milanese supremacy yet again this season as Jose Mourinho’s boys don’t look like taking their foot off the pedal domestically. An 18th league title, surpassing AC Milan’s scudetto wins, looks all but a certainty, unless their cross-town rivals have something to say about it.


Ravaging Rossoneri

Never in a million years would the pundits have imagined that this Milan side, with an average age rising year by year, and who lost two of their most creative talents in Kaka and Yoann Gourcuff in the summer, could have claimed second spot as their own with half the season gone: Especially after flirting with the relegation zone just weeks into the new campaign.

Whatever the exact reason that Inter have been so successful this year, the Rossoneri have managed to replicate it, to some degree. This allowed them to climb from twelfth to second after just eleven league rounds. The recent winning monotony was only broken with an out of character loss to Palermo a few weeks ago.

Milan are indeed doing their best to match city rivals Inter. For the Lucio-Samuel paring read Alessandro Nesta-Thiago Silva at Milan. For Sneijder read Ronaldinho, and for Milito read Alexandre Pato. It could even be argued that the recent displays of Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo in Milan’s engine room shifts the midfield balance in favour of Leonardo’s men. The duo do appear to have the edge – at least for the moment – over Dejan Stankovic and Esteban Cambiasso.

Has the moment finally arrived for Italy to witness a top-class title race? One it has craved for so long since years of accusations of bribery and allegations of foul play spoilt what was once the finest league on the planet. Despite the gap between Inter and Milan being eight points, a victory for the Rossoneri would surely blow the scudetto race wide open.

Of course, that is not to say Milan will tackle the Derby della Madonnina with ease, and an overconfident approach would surely be the wrong one. What Leonardo will be wary of is tasting a humiliating defeat, such as the 4-0 drubbing they received earlier this season from the Beneamata.

This Milan derby could be 90 minutes which decides the season. A blue win surely means a fifth consecutive title for Moratti’s club. A red win however could ensure a race that goes to the wire and breaks the dullness associated with Serie A for the past few seasons. Sunday 24th January will be one Milan derby not to miss.

 

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Photo courtesy: Tsutomu Takasu