AC MILAN v INTER: OPPOSITION REVIEW

This is "the" night. The most eagerly awaited night is almost on us. The European atmosphere will envelop an event as rare as it is electrifying with magic. The Milan derby will be staged on Wednesday 10 May in the most coveted and followed competition - the Champions League - for the fifth time in its history. A city rivalry, the one that stretches between the Duomo, Navigli and Castello Sforzesco, which finds its climax in a month promising to be very intense. Inter comes into this match in an obvious state of form: five victories in a row in all competitions (four without conceding), even overcoming opponents of the calibre of Juventus, Lazio and Roma.

The Nerazzurri have quite literally changed gear since mid-April. Overall, Inter have kept a clean sheet in six of their 10 Champions League matches, but they have never collected seven clean sheets in a single Champions Cup/Champions League season. Data that demonstrates the solidity of a side that has gained confidence as the months have passed. As a coach, Simone Inzaghi has yet to concede a goal to AC Milan in matches played not in the Serie A (six previous in the Coppa Italia and one in the Supercoppa Italiana) and has only once failed to make it through the round or win the trophy (in the 17/18 Coppa Italia semi-final, after a 0-0 draw).

INTER EXCELLENT IN OFFENSIVE RECOVERIES, USED TO ATTACKING FROM THE WINGS
We are in the final phase of the season and the Nerazzurri's way of playing football is by now quite well-known: a side accustomed to pressing high, with numbers, coordinated in continuously attacking the opponents' ball carriers (309 offensive recoveries in the current championship and 55 shots following these). It is no coincidence that Inter have scored five goals in Serie A following an offensive recovery, fewer only than AC Milan (who have scored six). Inzaghi's boys, therefore, are quick to exploit the wide channels to supply their attackers: 605 crosses from open play, a record in the current tournament, 147 of which were successful (another record).

Since the start of the calendar year, Inter have attempted 343 shots in the top flight, a record in 2023 not only in our league, but in the top five at European level. It should be emphasised, as is also the case with AC Milan, that Inter have often alternated a double outfit this season between the league and the Champions League. In the cup, in fact, it has often acted on a remittance: the Milanese are two of the top five teams in the current competition for shots following a counter-attack (15 Milan, 10 Inter).

LAUTARO RELENTLESS, LUKAKU IS BACK, DIMARCO THE ARROW
Lautaro Martínez has often shown a special liking for the Milan derby: seven goals in 12 career games against AC Milan. The Nerazzurri's 'Toro' comes to this challenge in excellent physical condition, well evidenced by the five goals and two assists he has put together in his last four Serie A appearances. The Argentine's attacking partner will be one of Edin Džeko and Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has been involved in 10 Inter goals and assists since March, a record for a Serie A player in all competitions that he shares with Lautaro.

In addition to the attacking pair, AC Milan will have to pay attention to the left-hand side, occupied by Federico Dimarco: no player has provided more assists in open play than the left-back (4) in the Champions League this season. To understand the importance of the figure, all you need to know is that the last Inter player to have served more in a single season in the competition was Samuel Eto'o in 2010-11 (5). Finally, a special mention for the Bastoni-Barella combination: the defender's long balls often find the midfielder's runs. It has already happened three times this season, two of them in away Champions League matches against Barcelona and Benfica.

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