AC Milan and Inter will contest their first derby of the season at San Siro tonight and it promises to be a fascinating spectacle for a number of reasons.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) points out this morning, Milan against Inter is not just a match between two title rivals because it brings a wealth of emotions and euphoria as only a few games can give.
The long wave in the aftermath of a derby can truly mark a season as last year Giroud brace proved given it knocked the Nerazzurri off course. This time it is only the fifth game of the season but the busy schedule – with the Champions League beginning in a few days – means there is plenty to juggle.
Furthermore, both Milan and Inter have been at the centre of criticism in these first few weeks: the Rossoneri for two away draws, the Nerazzurri for the defeat against Lazio.
Like every match, but above all like every derby, it is interesting to put the magnifying glass on the many duels that will arise within the match. The juiciest of today is Charles De Ketelaere versus the former Milan man Hakan Calhanoglu.
For the Belgian it will be the first Milanese derby as a starter, whereas for the Turk he will look to hurt his old club, For the first time there will be Gerry Cardinale at San Siro, in what will turn out to be the first game of the RedBird era.
