What: Italian Serie A
Who: AC Milan vs Inter
When: Sunday 15th January, 2012, at 19.45 (UK time)
Where: Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro), Milan, Italy
Advantage Allegri and Co.
The Rossoneri start this Milan derby as clear favourites, something which could actually be a dangerous state of affairs. Milan may have begun the season slowly, but then from 2nd October, remained unbeated for the next 12 Serie A games with 10 wins and two draws. Also found was the side’s goalscoring boots, with 13 different players getting on the scoresheet, with even midfielders Antonio Nocerino and Kevin-Prince Boateng finding the back of the net. The latter, under the management of Massimiliano Allegri, is more of a trequartista, but last Sunday against Atalanta, was played on the left of midfield and scored another important goal.
Milan have in fact scored 50 goals this season in three competitions (Serie A, the Champions League and the Italian Supercup) and only on two other occasions have the Rossoneri done better than that at this stage; in the 1992/93 season the team netted 67 goals in 24 games, with stars like Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Jean-Pierre Papin and Dejan Savicevic leading the way, while in the 2005/06 campaign, Milan managed 54, with Andriy Shevchenko in blistering form.
Allegri will set his troops up for the derby in a classic 4-3-1-2 system, with Christian Abbiati in goal, Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva (if fit) in the centre of defence and Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini on the right and left respectively. In midfield, the trio should be Mark van Bommel, Massimo Ambrosini and Antonio Nocerino, with a little further forward Kevin-Prince Boateng as a trequartista. Up front Robinho and the indispensible Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the line.
Ranieri Inspired Revival to Continue?
Inter have not yet managed to replace Jose Mourinho, not only for the Portuguese’s managerial abilities, but also his incredible charisma. Three have tried to fill the void (Rafael Benitez, Leonardo and Gian Piero Gasperini) and one is still trying (Claudio Ranieri).
After an opening to the season to forget, Ranieri has led Inter to victory in their last five matches, helping the side rise up to fifth spot and putting the Nerazzurri within touching distance of fourth-placed Lazio.
The Milan derby could end up being more decisive for the Nerazzurri than the Rossoneri because, with victory, Ranieri’s boys could continue their surge and begin to believe in an unlikely title challenge in a season considered one of transition at the start of the campaign.
Ranieri has a fully fit squad to choose from and will send out his team to play in a 4-4-2, with Julio Cesar in goal, Lucio and Walter Samuel forming the rock in the centre of defence, Brazilian raider Maicon on the right and Japanese full back Yuto Nagatomo on the left. In midfield, the former Chelsea boss may well opt for Javier Zanetti, Thiago Motta, Esteban Cambiasso and Ricardo Alvarez – the young Argentine has impressed massively in recent games. In attack Ranieri will trust in Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini, while Dutch schemer Wesley Sneijder, who last played more than two months ago, will stand ready to jump off the bench and help his team-mates.
Recent form
AC Milan:
AC Milan 2-0 Siena (17/12/2011; Serie A)
Cagliari 0-2 AC Milan (20/12/2011; Serie A)
Atalanta 0-2 AC Milan (08/01/2012; Serie A)
Inter:
Cesena 0-1 Inter (18/12/2011; Serie A)
Inter 4-1 Lecce (21/12/2011; Serie A)
Inter 5-0 Parma (07/01/2012; Serie A)
Key absences
AC Milan: Mathieu Flamini; Antonio Cassano; Mario Yepes; Alberto Aquilani; Thiago Silva (doubt); Clarence Seedorf (doubt)
Internazionale: None
Players to watch:
AC Milan – Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The Swedish phenomenon is more than just a centre forward. Ibrahimovic scores, makes goals and sometimes even drops back to play in midfield. In short, the former Inter man is the most feared player in Serie A. Last year Ibrahimovic missed the derby in April through suspension; now he is determined to put his stamp on the clash.
Inter – Giampaolo Pazzini: The Inter man did not have a first half of the season to remember, but recently sparked to life and scored a number of important goals. The Italian can play alongside Milito or Diego Forlan. It may well be that Pazzini’s performance will be helped if Sneijder makes an appearance to slot balls through to the striker.
Match Prediction
Slightly more important for Inter than Milan, the pressure will still be on both sides in this derby. The Nerazzurri are eight points behind their neighbours and this may well be one of their last chances to close the gap on the sides at the top of Serie A.
Milan however may play for a draw with this in mind, but the Rossoneri must also be aware that beating their old foes would end Inter’s feint title hopes.
The last draw in this game happened in the autumn of 2004; another is overdue. AC Milan 1-1 Inter.
AC Milan v Inter could be the match of the Serie A season so far. Will you make your knowledge count? Make sure you visit OLBG for tips and to compare the current odds and betting markets available at all the important bookmakers.
