It may be nearly two weeks away, but the derby between Inter and AC Milan after the international break is already generating plenty of hype.
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) reports this morning, Milan and Inter haven’t contested a derby as the two clubs at the top of the table since 1962. This year it will happen again, and the numbers don’t lie.
Inter have scored 8 goals, the same as Milan, for an average of almost 3 per game. Simone Inzaghi’s tried and tested 3-5-2 will battle Stefano Pioli’s new 4-3-3 which is fluid in positions and plays.
Both squads have been strengthened by the market. For Milan, with Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders there are three new names in the starting line-up with Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah, Noah Okafor and Luka Jovic to call on.
Inter maintained the same structure without distorting too much, saying goodbye to Romelu Lukaku, Milan Skriniar, Marcelo Brozovic and Edin Dzeko, incorporating 12 players such as Marcus Thuram, Davide Frattesi and Benjamin Pavard.
The international break will be useful to refine the margins for improvement starting with the Nerazzurri, who perhaps only need to look at building chemistry between Yann Sommer and the defence. Andrea Onana’s counterattacks were a tactical weapon, it is difficult for the Swiss to do the same, but he must at least try.
Milan, on the other hand, have wider margins, precisely because they have changed a lot even in the starting XI. If the midfield and attack have already gained in speed and imagination, it is in the rearguard that Pioli needs to fine-tune the mechanisms.
And either of them will battle to get second star for the first time since 1899 😀