Massimiliano Allegri and Cristian Chivu are getting closer to having to name their line-ups for the derby, and both already have clear ideas.
Just two points separate Inter and Milan in the Serie A table going into Sunday’s game, which promises to be another showpiece event for Italian football. The Nerrazzurri are top of the table at the moment, but the Rossoneri can leapfrog them with a win, or fall five points behind with a defeat.
Inter vs. AC Milan: Predicted starting XIs
Looking first of all at Milan, there is just one injury for Allegri to contend with: Santiago Gimenez is expected to miss out with an ankle issue.
According to Sky, Mike Maignan will remain in goal with Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Strahinja Pavlovic as the three-man defence ahead of him. Alexis Saelemaekers will be the right wing-back, and Pervis Estupinan is tipped to win the battle to start on the left.
The midfield trio welcomes back Adrien Rabiot, who will operate alongside Luka Modric and Youssouf Fofana. Leading the line will be Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao, who would make their first league start together.
Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Estupinan; Pulisic, Leao.
View this post on Instagram
Inter meanwhile are expected to line up with the same system. Thuram and Lautaro should lead the line for them, with Barella, Calhanoglu and Sucic the three-man midfield.
Carlos Augusto will take the place of the injured Dumfries, with Dimarco on the left. Akanji, Acerbi and Bastoni are down as the three-man defence.
Predicted Inter XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Carlos Augusto, Barella, Calhanoglu, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro.
View this post on Instagram
This is going to cost us the game. How on earth is he picking estu before
Yh…..
But why please? l don’t share same idea here, what will l say then l don’t have a saying in that, all the best then wish for the three point then up Milan
Espumisan again, it is terrible decision!
El Stupido 18 mln 🤡
Sheva always with the intelligent comments. “El Stupido” that’s just so clever. The sad thing is he leaves the same ignorant comment in every article. So he must be about 12 years old if he thinks that’s funny.
Guys guys please. I agree, Bartesaghi is the hot hand. But i could understand Allegri going with Estupinian, he is afterall more experienced. He had a bad game last time but overall he has been dependable. PErhaps he is thinking the derby is too much pressure on young Bartesaghi? . I would’ve gone with the kid too because he’s on a roll but eventually the kid will make a big mistake. Up front is the best we got. Excited to see Puli – Rafa for the first time in a long time
How is he the hot hand? Did you watch the Roma game? Bart was awful. The team was playing it’s best football this season with Estupian in there. This is the best possible lineup. Bartesaghi is not yet ready for this moment.
You keep saying that but it’s just not true. He was horrible against Napoli and Parma. Worse than anything that you accuse Bartesaghi of doing. And I’ll remind you that the worse of the two horrible games was against Parma. He couldn’t handle pressure from Parma. He’s not playing well right now and the team can’t afford another Estupinan stinker. If Allegri wants to go with that type of production in the name of experience, so be it. It’s his team to manage. But the wisdom is debatable because of Estupinan’s play on the field, not opinion.
All good. Dumfries is out. So Inter’s attack down that flank won’t be as potent. And Rabiot is back. I’m in the pro-Bartesaghi camp, but Allegri is Allegri and will start the more experienced players.
Bart was good in most of his games but very shaky in possession against Roma. as a team we cant afford that against inter, and for his personal development it could be a huge step backwards if he makes a costly mistake and media tear him apart, an excellent game would cause media to overhype him, and an average game on the other hand would not mean much. better building him up steadily instead of taking any risk