Short Match Preview: AC Milan Women vs. Inter in the Derby della Madonnina

By Steph Insixiengmay -

The AC Milan Women have won four out of five matches so far this season. They’ll be looking to extend their winning streak with a victory over Inter Milan.

They’ll be playing Milan’s second derby of the weekend at the Vismara on Sunday.

Here are a few talking points before the game.

The formations

Inter’s formation against Napoli | Wyscout

Milan have shown a willingness to vary their formations this season. For the first four matches of the season, the team lined-up in a 4-3-1-2. During the last match against Empoli, they lined-up in a 3-5-2. The formation worked out well for Milan, as they used it to snuff out the Azzurre’s deadly attack and were the first team to keep a clean sheet against them.

Inter Milan also field a 4-3-1-2 formation. Though they do, at times, line-up in a 4-1-4-1 as well. However, the difference between the two is that Milan plays like a more cohesive unit. The Nerazzurre, on the other hand, tend to look rather lost on the pitch.

This is in large part due to their coach, Attilio Sorbi. Sorbi, at times, seems to be rather clueless and tactically inept. This comes through in various ways on the pitch, whether it’s fielding certain players out of position (e.g. Martina Brustia, a midfielder, has been played as a fullback), or by benching his best players.

This is most evident by the fact that Inter forward Gloria Marinelli and right-back Beatrice Merlo have been benched for long stretches of matches, only to be brought on in the dying minutes of the game, where they have less time to make a significant impact.

Fortunately for Milan, coach Maurizio Ganz realizes that the best way to win matches is to field your best players and to play them in their positions.

How Milan can win this match

If Milan are to win this match, then they will have to use their willingness to be tactically flexible to their advantage. Look for them to either field a 3-5-2 again, or play four at the back, in order to neutralize the Nerazzurre’s attack.

The Rossonere also have one of the strongest defenses in the league, as they’ve only conceded one goal during the current season.

Milan will be able to win the match on the strength of their defense, along with their maturity, and their sense of cohesion as well.

The only glaring weakness Milan have exhibited so far has been the fact that they haven’t been as clinical in front of goal. However, they still have enough in them to produce the goals when it counts. Forward Natasha Dowie has been in fine form lately, so much so that she’s been named the AIC player of the month for her efforts.

Expect her to lead the forward line and to score a few goals as well.

The Rossonere are riding on the momentum of a three-goal win over Empoli and will be looking to carry that momentum into this next match.

They might also draw inspiration from the fact that the men won their derby against Inter yesterday.

And what a perfect weekend it will be from Milan if we end it by winning both derbies.

When and where to watch

The match will be played on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CET (3:30 a.m. PST / 6:30 a.m. EST) at the Centro Sportivo Vismara in Milan.

Milan will, therefore, be the home side for the match.

You’ll be able to able to watch the game on the AC Milan app, TimVision, Sky (Italy only), and on the Dailymotion page after the match has ended.

Tags AC Milan Women Rossonere
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