INTER v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

It's derby time again: Sunday at 20:45 CET marks the 178th meeting in Serie A, in what will be Matchday 21. To cloak the Madonnina in rossoneri or nerazzurri colours is always worth double, but in this case the stakes are really high. On the one hand, AC Milan are aiming to bounce back after a bad January (after the success against Salernitana, two draws and four defeats came in all competitions, including the defeat against Inter in the Supercoppa). On the other hand, Inzaghi's team has collected eight wins in the last ten matches played, collecting four clean sheets in the process; but it is also true that they have lost points where they were not expected: a draw at home to Monza and a home defeat against Empoli.

Although predicting the derby is always the most difficult, there are some numbers referring to the home performance that tilt the needle in favour of the Nerazzurri. The first relates to the defensive side: no one has conceded fewer goals than Inter in home games this season (five, level with Roma). The second relates to points collected at home in the current championship: 24 in ten matches, behind only Napoli (28). The Rossoneri's balance is quite different, as in January alone they have won half as many points as their opponents (five vs. ten) and, above all, conceded ten more goals (fourteen vs. four). They have scored two goals more than their neighbours (eight vs. six) this calendar year. Numbers are a certain indicator, but derbies are the exception.

INTER LETHAL FROM SET PIECES, CORNERS MORE THAN ANYTHING
Inter are an uncomfortable opponent for three reasons in particular: the first concerns their hyper-offensive approach. The Nerazzurri have scored an impressive fourteen goals in the first 30 minutes, a record shared with Lazio in this specific time interval. At the same time, only Cremonese (fourteen) and Sampdoria (twelve) have conceded more than Milan (eleven) in the first half-hour of play. This is why the attitude of the two teams at the start - both in attack and defence - could prove decisive.

The second concerns the effectiveness of scoring on set-pieces: Inter boast no fewer than twelve goals from set-pieces, and in this particular ranking they are second behind only Napoli, who lead with fourteen. Hence, the third aspect which the Rossoneri rearguard will have to pay particular attention to: defending corners. AC Milan has conceded four goals from corners - only Lecce and Cremonese, five each, have done worse - and Inter have scored six from the same situation, second - again - only to Napoli (ten).

LAUTARO RELENTLESS, DŽEKO INDISPENSABLE
If on a collective level the risks are different, even from the point of view of individuals the dangers are still abundant. The first name is undoubtedly that of Lautaro Martínez: he has scored six goals against AC Milan in all competitions, only against Cagliari (eight) has he done better in an Inter shirt. Furthermore, if he were to hit the target, the Argentine would become the second-highest foreign goalscorer in the history of the Derby di Milano in the Nerazzurri after Nyers (eleven). Apart from matches against AC Milan, he has another important goal in his sights: to become the 12th Nerazzurri player with at least 70 goals in Serie A, the third foreigner after Icardi and Nyers.

Alongside Lautaro, and likely to start for Inzaghi, is Edin Džeko who is the second danger for Pioli's defenders. The 36 year-old has scored six goals against AC Milan in Serie A, five in a Roma shirt and one in the first leg of the derby - of these, five have come at San Siro, including a brace in May 2017. The most recent, however, is the one in the Supercoppa Final last January 18, scoring the second in a 3-0 drubbing. The Bosnian striker has proved to be a fundamental, almost irreplaceable pawn in the team's offensive production: twenty goals and eight assists in 56 league appearances.

The PUMA AC Milan Kits for the 2022/23 season are available: get yours now!