WOMEN, INTER v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

A derby is always a special match. When it's as historic as this, it's even more special. Inter and AC Milan face each other for their first meeting in the 2023/24 Women's Serie A, and they are doing so in an absolutely exceptional setting. The Arena Civica Gianni Brera, the oldest stadium in Italy, whose memory is shared by all sports in Milan. Entrance to the match is free, subject to availability, and the gates to the Parco Sempione facility will open on Saturday 25 November at 12:15. Whilst you wait for the kick-off, here is our Match Preview for our meeting on Matchday 9. 

LATEST FROM PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
The match between the Rossonere and Nerazzurre will also be Davide Corti's debut managing AC Milan, having led the Primavera Femminile since 2021. A baptism of fire for the 51-year-old, who grew up in the Rossonero Youth Sector and won the last Torneo di Viareggio with the Primavera girls. Bergamaschi and co. have been slowed down in their race for the Poule Scudetto by two consecutive draws, but the derby represents an opportunity to bounce back with the return fixture in view. In the first official AC Milan match at the Arena Civica since 1959, Corti will be able to count on wide availability from his squad without any suspensions or cautions. 

Here are the squad for the match: Babb, Copetti, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Bergamaschi, Fusetti, Guagni, Piga, Soffia, Swaby, Thrige; Adami, Cernoia, Dubcová, Grimshaw, Mascarello, Vigilucci; Asllani, Dompig, Laurent, Marinelli, Stašková.

LATEST FROM INTER
No suspensions or cautions either for the Nerazzurre, who will also be looking for a similar resurgence after enduring a tough defeat in their last match: 5-0 away to Juventus. Inter have collected 13 points from their first eight matches (4 more than Milan, but 6 points off the Champions League places) and have alternated between victory and defeat since 8 October; irregular form for a team that are also in need of an important result. They often rely on a 4-3-3, with a consistent defence of Sønstevold-Bowen-Tomter-Thøgersen in front of Azzurra national team keeper, Durante. Csiszár often lines up in midfield alongside Simonetti and Pandini in the Juventus game. In front of them, Rita Guarino has many options at her disposal: in their last match, she chose a front three of Bonfantini-Polli-Cambiaghi, but there is also the young Maltese, Bugeja.

"It's an important match, we're only thinking about the future, not the past," said Nerazzurre captain Lisa Alborghetti ahead of the match. "It's a derby, and we're playing at our new home, we have a great urge to show something more."

PRE-MATCH
The 11th meeting in the Women's Serie A between these two teams, with AC Milan currently out ahead with seven victories compared to three. It was a more even record last season, however, with Inter coming out on top in both regular season games whilst the Rossonere won both Poule Scudetto games (3-1 at home, 0-1 away). AC Milan are two goals away from reaching 250 league goals, a feat only managed by Juventus and Roma since 2018/19. The Rossonere often make very strong starts to games; in fact, they have scored as many as three goals in the first 15 minutes of play (no team has a better record), two of which have come into their last two games. Seven different goalscorers this season, the most of all teams in Serie A, however only Kosovare Asllani has scored more than goal at home so far in the league. This will be Gloria Marinelli's first time on this side of the Derby, whilst Allyson Swaby, the Rossonera with the most passes completed (324) and balls played (467), scored her last goal in the league against Inter (whilst she was at Roma). 

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
Inter v AC Milan will be broadcast live on Italian TV on Saturday 25 November at 13:45 on DAZN, Rai Sport and Rai Play. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the Rossonere's official social channels and the AC Milan Official App where, from the following day, the full broadcast will also be available on demand.

LATEST FROM WOMEN'S SERIE A
Maria Marotta will be seeing over the first derby of the season: a referee with experience, her last Rossonera match came on 26 November 2022 against Fiorentina. Completing the refereeing team will be linesmen, Allocco and El Filiali whilst Frazza will be the fourth official. 

The derby at the Arena Civica Gianni Brera will be one of two matches to open the final Matchday of the first half of the regular season on Saturday 25 November. Before Inter v AC Milan at 13:45, Como Women face Pomigliano at 12:30. Three matches scheduled for Sunday 26 November: Roma v Fiorentina at 12:30, Napoli v Juventus at 15:00 and Sampdoria v Sassuolo at 18:00. 

The current standings. Roma 24; Juventus 21; Fiorentina 19; Como Women and Inter 13; AC Milan 9; Sampdoria 7; Sassuolo 5; Pomigliano 4; Napoli 0.

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