Milan v Inter
Indifferent Serie A league form will count for nothing on Sunday night when the AC and Inter meet in the Milan derby at the San Siro Stadium on Sunday night. Any frustrations their fans might be enduring at their respective league positions will pale in comparison to the need to win this game and gain bragging rights in the city.Boths sides have lost just one of their last five games, but with draws thrown in among the occasional wins this season, they are currently occupying seventh and ninth spot respectively.
Without the distraction of European football this season much was expected of a concerted assault on the Serie A title, but Milan’s unpredictable form is typified in their last two outings, when they first of all contrived to lose 2-0 at home to a struggling Palermo side, before travelling to third-placed Sampdoria last time out to grab a 2-2 draw from the title contenders.
With much of any success that Filipe inzaghi’s men have enjoyed in the final third revolving around the form of Keisuke Honda, who has notched six goals, Milan will require more contributions from the likes of Fernando Torres, whose barren spell has not improved since his arrival from Chelsea, and Stefan El Shaarawy, who have only contributed two goals between them in seventeen combined outings.
Inter have fared no better, and their record of 16 points from 11 disappointing games has ultimately cost Walter Mazzarri his job, replaced as coach this week by Roberto Mancini, who embarks on his second tenure at the helm. He could not have asked for a tougher baptism than this derby fixture, but there will be little pressure on him, and his arrival might just inspire a spark of enthusiasm and confidence from his players. he has a wealth of experience at his disposal, with Nemanje Vidic still the rock of his defence alongside young Brazilians, Juan and Dodo, while up front, young Argentinian striker, Mauro Icardi is starting to build on his promising start last season, with 7 goals in 11 appearances.
All in all, this promises to be a cracking occasion in the dramatic surroundings of the San Siro, and Mancini’s arrival will give the crowd even more to vent their fury and fanatic support.