The San Siro is set to witness another thrilling chapter in the iconic Derby della Madonnina as AC Milan take on Inter Milan this Sunday. Just a month after Milan’s Supercoppa Italiana triumph in Saudi Arabia, these two historic rivals clash again, with Serie A supremacy on the line.
Inter, the reigning champions, are in formidable form and trail league leaders Napoli by just three points. Meanwhile, Milan, despite their Supercoppa victory, have struggled for consistency and are 16 points behind their city rivals in the standings.
Let’s dive into the key storylines, team news, and predictions for this monumental showdown.
Match Details
📍 Location: San Siro, Milan, Italy
🏟 Stadium: San Siro
📅 Date: Sunday, 2 February
⏰ Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET / 11:45 PT
👨⚖️ Referee: TBC
Current Form & Recent Performances
Inter Milan 🔵⚫
🔹 Monaco 0-3 Inter Milan (Champions League)
🔹 Inter Milan 4-0 Lecce (Serie A)
🔹 Juventus 1-1 Inter Milan (Serie A)
🔹 Inter Milan 2-0 Torino (Serie A)
🔹 Atalanta 1-2 Inter Milan (Serie A)
Key Stats:
✅ Unbeaten in last 10 matches across all competitions
✅ 7 consecutive away clean sheets in Serie A
✅ 23 goals scored in last 7 away league games
AC Milan 🔴⚫
🔹 AC Milan 2-1 Parma (Coppa Italia)
🔹 AC Milan 3-1 Girona (Champions League)
🔹 Juventus 2-0 AC Milan (Serie A)
🔹 AC Milan 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb (Champions League)
🔹 AC Milan 4-2 Lazio (Serie A)
Key Stats:
⚠️ Struggled for consistency despite recent wins
⚠️ Lost 2 of their last 4 matches
⚠️ Supercoppa champions but trail Inter by 16 points in Serie A
Team News & Expected Lineups
AC Milan Team News
📌 Out: Youssouf Fofana (suspension), Malick Thiaw, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alessandro Florenzi (injuries)
📌 Doubtful: Kyle Walker (match fitness)
🔴 AC Milan Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Bennacer, Musah; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham
🔹 Key Players:
➡️ Rafael Leao – Milan’s most dangerous attacker, capable of game-changing moments
➡️ Christian Pulisic – The American playmaker needs to step up in big matches
➡️ Tammy Abraham – Will lead the line and look to challenge Inter’s rock-solid defense
Inter Milan Team News
📌 Out: Joaquin Correa (injury)
📌 Doubtful: Hakan Calhanoglu, Francesco Acerbi (fitness concerns)
🔵 Inter Milan Predicted XI (3-5-2):
Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
🔹 Key Players:
➡️ Lautaro Martinez – Serie A’s most in-form striker with 9 league goals this season
➡️ Marcus Thuram – The French forward has formed a deadly partnership with Lautaro
➡️ Denzel Dumfries – Has scored in 3 consecutive Serie A matches
Tactical Breakdown & Key Matchups
1. Milan’s Attacking Struggles vs. Inter’s Defensive Dominance
Inter have been defensively rock-solid, with seven consecutive away clean sheets in Serie A. Milan, however, have struggled to break down top teams, failing to score against Juventus in a crucial match.
🔹 Key Battle: Tammy Abraham vs. Stefan de Vrij – Can the English striker provide a breakthrough for Milan?
2. Lautaro Martinez & Thuram: The Deadly Duo
Inter’s attack has been unstoppable, with Lautaro Martinez scoring 9 goals this season and Thuram proving to be the perfect partner. Milan’s defensive frailties could be exposed if they don’t contain Inter’s fast breaks.
🔹 Key Battle: Fikayo Tomori vs. Lautaro Martinez – Milan’s center-back must be at his best to stop Inter’s main man.
3. Midfield Control: Can Milan Compete?
With Youssouf Fofana suspended, Milan’s midfield will lack strength and balance. Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have dominated the midfield for Inter, ensuring control and creativity.
🔹 Key Battle: Ismael Bennacer vs. Nicolo Barella – Can Milan’s midfield hold up against Inter’s high press?
Match Prediction: Who Will Win the Milan Derby?
While Milan has the capability to surprise, Inter’s superior form, firepower, and defensive stability make them the clear favorites. The Nerazzurri have been dominant in both Serie A and the Champions League, and their confidence is sky-high.
Milan will put up a fight, especially with home support at San Siro, but Inter’s clinical attack should prevail. Expect goals, drama, and high intensity in one of Italy’s biggest fixtures.
🔮 Final Prediction: Inter Milan 3-1 AC Milan
📢 Who do you think will win the Milan Derby? Drop your predictions below! ⚽🔥
