ANOTHER DERBY

97 days. Not long has passed since the Derby away-day between AC Milan and Inter’s Primavera sides. In the little over three month period, though, much has changed for Coach Giunti’s young Rossoneri: if that defeat on the 17 February was their worst of the season, AC Milan now come into this second Derby with the wind very much in their sails. 

Six games unbeaten, three wins in a row - on both counts their best form of the season - and, generally, a constant idea that their hard-work each day is starting to bear the expected fruit. This is a different AC Milan side that, in the unprecedented Wednesday 19:00 slot, takes on Inter, who are currently league-leaders in Primavera 1, with 46 points.

Three months ago, these Rossoneri were still struggling to find any continuity, with the season having just re-started after a long pause owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. We need look no further than the two results that preceded that first game against the Nerazzurri: a tough 3-0 loss at Bologna, avenged last weekend, was followed by an exciting 4-0 win against Empoli on Valentine’s Day. 

AC Milan came back from that afternoon in Vismara with great determination, starting from the back: in their last 14 games, only twice have they conceded more than one goal (against Fiorentina and Bologna), making them the third tightest defence in the league. 

This has then translated to the attack: their last game without a goal was also their last defeat, a 0-1 against Juventus on 10 April. In the six games since, the Rossoneri have re-found their touch in front of goal, with Giacomo Olzer and Youns El Hilali reliable up front and a brace from Andrea Capone against Bologna a welcome boost. 

This AC Milan side head into tomorrow’s game in their best form of the season, right in the mix for a place in the Playoff Scudetto: only 4 points separate 5th and 9th, with six games to play. The Rossoneri sit in the middle of that bunch; the stakes are high, then. But faith in the project, in the methods, in the growth that they have made, is high. 

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