AC MILAN v INTER: OPPONENT REVIEW

A weekend of high intensity at San Siro: on Saturday at 18:00 CEST, the first derby of the season will be played. Inter face the reigning Italian champions after a convincing performance against Cremonese, a defeat at the Olimpico against Lazio, and two victories against Spezia and Lecce in the first two matches. Including the end of the 2021/22 campaign, the Nerazzurri have won 11 of their last 13 Serie A matches (two defeats) and found the net for 16 consecutive rounds (38 goals, averaging over 2.3 per match).

In fact, they haven't finished a game without scoring since 25 February, when they drew 0-0 against Genoa. Despite the defeat in the most recent away match, Inter are unbeaten in 14 of their last 16 games on the road in the top flight (W9, D5) and have not lost two in a row since March 2020 (v Lazio and Juventus with Antonio Conte in the dugout). The aims for Inzaghi's team are essentially twofold: to erase the defeat to Lazio and redeem themselves after the last Derby lost to AC Milan. Premises that guarantee a truly fascinating fixture.

MIDFIELD STRENGTH AND POWER ON THE FLANKS: HOW INTER CAN STRIKE THE DEVIL
The match with Inter presents various pitfalls on various levels. Leaving aside the psychological aspect, which as always makes the Derby a special and unpredictable match, today's opponents are on the rise on both an athletic and tactical level. If in the defeat against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico many elements of Inzaghi's system, particularly in the midfield, appeared to be in trouble, in the match against Cremonese the signs were more than encouraging. Barella was unstoppable (with a goal and assist), Brozovic controlled the game metronomically (second-best midfielder for intercepted passes and second for successful passes in the league).

The squad seems to have regrouped, and the stats from the first four games confirm the aspects that make up their game: strength in the middle, productivity on the flanks and order in defence. Their counter-attacks are also effective - the Nerazzurri are in fact the team that boasts the most offensive recoveries in the current season (37) - and they're precise with their crosses (corners included), too: Inter are one of the two teams that have so far produced (94, behind Fiorentina with 95) and completed (29) the most.

LAUTARO AND CORREA: THE ARGENTINIANS SET THE DERBY ON FIRE
Lautaro Martínez on one side, Joaquín Correa on the other. The 'Toro' is - among the Nerazzurri - undoubtedly the most inspired in this start of Serie A. Inter's number 10 has been involved in a goal in each of the first four matches of the tournament, and since Opta has been collecting assist figures (2004/05), only Zlatan Ibrahimović (in 2007/08) and Nicolò Barella (in 2021/22) have been able to make a goal contribution in each of the first five matches of the season played in a Nerazzurri shirt. Three goals also for Lautaro against the Diavolo in the top flight, but the two most recent came in April, in the Coppa Italia semi-final.

If Martínez boasts excellent numbers against the Rossoneri, so does compatriot Joaquín Correa, who has scored four goals in Serie A against AC Milan - more than against any other opponent in the competition. El Tucu's recent average is excellent: four goals in his last five Serie A matches after 18 goalless appearances. Continuity and incisiveness: in Lukaku's absence, the Argentine duo is undoubtedly the number one danger for Pioli's defence. Tomori and Kalulu have been warned.

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